Valtteri Bottas to Williams? Announcement Expected Before Canada
Well-known Finnish Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas may unexpectedly return to the Williams team in 2025. According to Speedcafe and Finnish newspaper VSabladet, Bottas has been strongly linked with a move to Williams, where he will join Alex Albo.
Bottas could be available next season as Audi and Sauber consider other options for Nico Hulkenberg. Despite not scoring any points so far this season, Bottas is firmly in the standings and holds a 7-0 lead over teammate Zhou Guanyu. It’s a testament to his ability and consistency, even in the most uncompetitive car.
In addition to Williams, the young talent has also been linked with other teams such as Oliver Bearman and Haas, where he could join Alpine if Bottas, Esteban Ocon, or Pierre Gasly decide to leave. However, the most concrete seems to be the possibility of a return to the Grove, where Williams is based.
Bottas started his Formula 1 career at Williams in 2013 and achieved his first podium with the team the following year. After four successful years at Williams, he was chosen to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, where he formed a formidable partnership with Lewis Hamilton. During his time at Mercedes, Bottas took 10 race wins and was instrumental in the team’s continued success.
According to the report, Bottas’ possible move to Williams could be announced as early as next month, during the Canadian Grand Prix. The move would benefit both parties, as Williams could gain an experienced and fast driver to compete in a highly competitive midfield.
With Bottas and Albon, Williams would be one of the best pairings on the grid, greatly increasing their chances of success in the race. Bottas’ experience would be invaluable to the team, especially in terms of continued performance and car development.
Recently, Bottas was spotted in a Williams car during the weekend of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Commenting on his visit to Williams at Imola, Bottas said, “It was about ordinary things, about life! Of course, when you’re at the open market, you want to see what’s out there. It’s a completely normal situation when you’re in a free market.”
If it comes to fruition, Bottas’ return to Williams would be an interesting chapter in his career and could be a huge boost to the team’s more competitive results. Formula 1 fans will no doubt be interested to see how this potential transfer plays out in the coming weeks.