F1 legend drops 4-word reaction to Valtteri Bottas returning to Mercedes in 2025

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill gave a crisp reply to Valtteri Bottas returning to the Mercedes fold as a reserve driver for the 2025 season. The Finnish driver ended his tenure at the Kick Sauber F1 team at the end of 2024 as the Hinwil-based outfit decided against renewing his contract and replaced him with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.

The ten-time race winner had joined the team after his five successful years at Mercedes and replaced the departing Kimi Raikkonen to revitalize his career. However, after a decent first year, Bottas struggled to score points in 2023 and did not score a point in his final year.

After teasing his fans for months about his next venture, Valtteri Bottas confirmed that he would return to Mercedes for the 2025 season. Hill on his Instagram Stories gave a four-word reaction to Bottas' move as he pointed out that there was so much action in F1 in the last couple of days with the driver's lineup. He said:

"It's all happening today."

Damon Hill on Valtteri Bottas...Credits-Instagram Story

On being a reserve driver with Mercedes, Bottas expressed his delight at returning to the German team, where he won 10 races from 2017 to 2021 and guided them to five Constructors' Championships in a row, saying, via F1.com:

“Returning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased. I want to thank Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team boss], the team at Brackley, and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me back with open arms.

“Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1."

Mercedes team boss gives his take on Valtteri Bottas' return to the team

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that he was looking forward to working with Valtteri Bottas in the Brackley-based outfit next year. He claimed that the latter's impact during his first stint was "immense."

The Austrian reflected:

“Welcome home, Valtteri! It’s great to have you back. His impact and contribution in the five years he was with us previously as our race driver was immense. Along with scoring multiple Grand Prix wins, he played a vital role in five of our championship victories.

"His technical feedback and input were important in helping us to those successes and pushing the team forward. Not only that, but he was also a fantastic colleague and team member. His dry sense of humor and personable nature made him a firm favorite with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth."

The Finnish driver would take the role from Mick Schumacher, who had been with the German team for the last two years after his exit from Haas F1.