Beijing, Oct 8 (NationPress) Valtteri Bottas has spent the past year observing Formula One from the sidelines without participating. Officially, he has served as Mercedes' reserve driver, attending briefings, scrutinizing data, and maintaining fitness in case of necessity. Unofficially, he has been a man eager for another opportunity.

This opportunity will present itself next season as Bottas reenters the grid with Cadillac. The American manufacturer's entry marks a daring venture from Detroit on the global F1 stage, and for Bottas, it signifies a pathway back into a realm he never wanted to exit.

"Securing this seat has been my objective for some time," he states. "This opportunity arose, and I feel absolutely confident about it."

THE ULTIMATE TEAM PLAYER

Understanding the significance of this return necessitates reflecting on Bottas's tenure at Mercedes. He joined in 2017 to take over from Nico Rosberg, the only driver at that time to have bested Lewis Hamilton in equivalent machinery. Bottas swiftly grasped the enormity of that challenge, reports Xinhua.

Throughout five seasons, he exemplified the ideal subordinate: sufficiently quick to earn points, podiums, and occasional victories, yet never so quick as to jeopardize Hamilton's dominance. Together, they secured Constructors' titles during each of Bottas's years at the team. The Finn celebrated ten grand prix wins during this period, but was always overshadowed by his illustrious teammate.

There were weekends when Bottas displayed unmatched performance—such as in Melbourne 2019 and Austria 2020—but a sustained title challenge never emerged. When Mercedes opted for George Russell as Hamilton’s long-term partner in 2022, Bottas was sidelined, his reputation for reliability preserved.

FROZEN AT SAUBER

His subsequent move to Sauber was anticipated to be liberating. Finally, he had a three-year contract and an opportunity to lead a team on his own terms after the unpredictability of annual contracts at Mercedes. However, optimism quickly waned.

As Audi's takeover loomed, the team faltered, and performance dwindled. Where Bottas once battled Hamilton and Max Verstappen for wins, he now found himself fighting for 15th place. By the end of 2024, he had completed an entire season without scoring a point.

"My Sauber years weren't the most enjoyable," he remarks with characteristic understatement. He later confessed that the move was a mistake.

When his contract expired, few anticipated his return. "I received messages saying, 'Congrats on a great career, enjoy retirement,'" he recalls with a grin. "I didn't respond to those people because I was not finished."

LEARNING FROM SIDELINES

Returning to Mercedes for 2025 as the reserve driver has offered Bottas new insights. "I've viewed the sport from a different perspective," he explains. "Typically, as a driver, your only contact is your race engineer. This year, I've been in the garage, listened to the communications, understood more of what happens behind the scenes in qualifying and the race, and learned about operations in the factory. This will assist me in building a new team."

He even came close to racing again when Russell fell ill in Baku. "They woke me up early on Friday to get to the track and be ready," he recalls. "About an hour before the session, George decided he'd try, and in the end, he was fine."

Bottas shrugs. Routine, he asserts, after over a decade in the sport. "Physically, I stay prepared, and with the engineers, it’s about reviewing the setup, addressing balance issues, and troubleshooting. That’s normal for me."

STEADY HAND FOR NEW PROJECT

Next year, Bottas will spearhead Cadillac's initial endeavors in Formula 1. No one within the team is discussing podiums or even points just yet. Instead, the focus is on completing races, learning quickly, and enduring the initial challenges.

"The first year with Cadillac will be demanding," Bottas concedes. "We’re not anticipating major results. That’s just the reality. But I’d rather be here than anywhere else. Being on the sidelines reminded me how exciting this sport is."

Although still under contract with Mercedes until the end of 2025, he has already initiated early technical discussions with his new teammates. "We’ve had online meetings with some engineers. We can discuss elements like steering wheel layouts and fundamental preferences."

One of the motivations behind Cadillac's decision to engage Bottas and former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez is their wealth of experience. Together, they have participated in over 400 Grands Prix, and their roles will not only involve driving but also guiding—ensuring the nascent team learns the intricacies of a race weekend, prioritizes development, and avoids the traps that have ensnared many newcomers before them.

When asked if he would prefer a fast but fragile car or a slower one that can endure the entire race, Bottas does not hesitate. "If you don’t finish races, it doesn’t matter how speedy you are. For a new team, that should be the mindset: accumulate those laps, those kilometers, and progress gradually."

As the 2026 season commences next March in Melbourne, Bottas will return to the site of one of his most commanding victories. He may not be contesting for victory this time, but merely being there will feel like a triumph.

"I believe I appreciate the sport more now," he reflects. "I’m undoubtedly living the dream, and I wouldn’t alter a thing."