Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has praised Valtteri Bottas after the Finn secured a full-time Formula 1 return with Cadillac for 2026.
Wolff said Bottas “deserves” to be racing again, expressing pride at his comeback while admitting he will be “sad” to lose him from Mercedes.
Bottas, 35, has spent 2025 as Mercedes’ third driver after losing his Stake seat at the end of last season.
During his year back at Brackley, the 10-time grand prix winner has played an important role behind the scenes, supporting George Russell while mentoring rookie Kimi Antonelli.
At just 18, Antonelli has been described as a generational talent but faces a steep learning curve in his debut campaign.
Despite Bottas’s value to Mercedes, Wolff insisted his return to the grid was the right outcome.
Bottas will race for Cadillac alongside Sergio Perez, who himself moves to the fledgling American outfit for 2026.
“It is great to see Valtteri regain his place on the F1 grid for next year,” said Wolff.
“He still has so much to offer as a racing driver and deserves to be lining up in Melbourne for the 2026 season.
“We will of course be sad to see him go. He has played an important role in our team, and his contribution as our third driver this year has been exemplary.
“For now, we will continue that work until the end of the year before wishing him well for next year and beyond.”
