Valtteri Bottas to Red Bull? ‘Don’t really like me’ claim ends Sergio Perez replacement rumours

Despite proving he’s a great wingman at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas doesn’t think Red Bull are an option for him in F1 2025 as some people in the team “don’t really like me.”

Bottas‘ F1 future is in doubt after the Finn was dropped by Sauber having failed to reach a mutual agreement, with the driver on record as seeking a multi-year deal while Audi F1 Mattia Binotto only offered him one for F1 2025.

Valtteri Bottas doubts Red Bull are an option for F1 2025

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Blackstock

Sauber went on to sign Gabriel Bortoletto in an all-new line-up alongside Nico Hulkenberg, leaving Bottas wondering what’s next.

Only two teams have seats available for next season, Red Bull and VCARB. But while the latter has made it clear there will be a young driver in the car, VCARB returning to its junior driver roots, Red Bull are seeking a wingman for Max Verstappen.

And if there’s one thing Bottas knows, it’s how to be a “sensational wingman”, as Toto Wolff put it, as the Finn supported Lewis Hamilton in his run of Drivers’ Championship titles between 2017 and 2020.

He also played a huge part in Mercedes’ run of eight Constructors’ Championship titles before leaving the team at the end of 2021.

Bottas, though, doubts he’s in the running to replace Sergio Perez next season.

“I feel like there are some people at Red Bull who don’t really like me for some reason,” he told the media including PlanetF1.com after the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s an option. That’s my feeling.”

There is also a new option, actually two, potentially on the table – but only for F1 2026 with Formula 1 confirming General Motors and Cadillac are provisionally on the grid.

Asked if he’d be interested in that race seat, Bottas replied: “Yes, I might!”

How the F1 grid is shaping up

?F1 2025 driver line-up: Who is already confirmed for the 2025 grid?

?F1 2026 driver line-up: Lewis Hamilton and other drivers already confirmed for 2026

Valtteri Bottas confirms Toto Wolff talks

But for F1 2025 at least it looks as if a return to Mercedes could be on the cards with Bottas in talks with his former team boss Toto Wolff, who revealed in Las Vegas that a reunion with the 10-time race winner is “a matter of time.”

“We’ve been talking,” Bottas confirmed. “We’ve been talking for quite a long time. So obviously this weekend been focusing on racing. But it’s nice words from him and I’m sure we will catch up again either tomorrow or Monday.

“Of course, I want to see all the options, but if I look at it there’s many positive things about it.

“Being back in the Mercedes family, it’s a great team, it’s a great, great brand, can create lots of opportunities for the future. So it’s a really solid option for me.

“And actually, I’m really thankful that they are willing to take me in the role.”

One topic that needs to be discussed is whether Bottas will attend all 24 grands prix if he signed on as the team’s reserve driver.

“The thing is that if you don’t go to all the races then if something happens and you’re not there, you don’t get your [chance],” he said of his thoughts on that.

“It’s those kind of things I still need to really think about and also speak with them. Still trying to figure out what’s next.”

Looking more to the immediate future, Bottas hopes he can get points on the board for Sauber before the end of F1 2024.

“I really hope so,” he said of his chances of scoring a point before the season is over. “I feel that we have gained some stability, some consistency in the car, and actually the biggest issue this weekend has been understeer in some of the corners.

“Qatar is very different, going to be higher temperatures, but I think the whole platform is now much more stable.

“It’s hard to predict, but I just hope we get a chance.”

Read next: Cadillac F1: Five drivers we’d love to see join the new American team