Valtteri Bottas has revealed that his contract with Mercedes permits him to compete in motor races outside Formula 1, but his current commitments as the team's reserve driver and a busy off-track lifestyle leave him "too busy" to pursue such opportunities in 2025.
After losing his Sauber race seat at the end of 2024, the 10-time grand prix winner returned to Mercedes - where he previously served as Lewis Hamilton's teammate - in the reserve driver role.
Now, Bottas is being linked with a potential 2026 seat at the incoming Cadillac F1 team. "I hope to return to the grid," he told automoto.it.
"I feel like I haven't finished my journey in this sport yet. I still have a few years ahead of me. That's the goal. How to achieve it is the difficult part."
Frequently seen alongside his former boss and friend Toto Wolff in the Mercedes garage, Bottas has earned praise for mentoring Hamilton's 18-year-old replacement, Kimi Antonelli. "He still has a lot to learn," Bottas said of the young Italian.
"There is a lot to absorb, especially on tracks he hasn't raced on. I can put my experience at his service for the setup. For driving. I try to help him."
Bottas' role requires his presence at all 24 grands prix, but he noted that his contract offers flexibility. "The first step is to be here, with a great team," he said, outlining his strategy to reclaim an F1 race seat.
"I keep myself updated on what's happening in the environment, with the teams preparing for 2026. F1 remains my priority, but contractually I can also take part in some races during the season.
"For now I've been too busy to do that, but I feel like my career as a driver is not over yet. If it weren't for F1, I would race elsewhere."
Following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Bottas travelled to Australia to reunite with his girlfriend, Tiffany, and the couple both competed in the 100km gravel cycling world championship event near Adelaide.
Bottas' passion for cycling, which has grown into a serious pursuit in recent years, underscores his confidence in his physical and mental readiness for a Formula 1 comeback. When asked if he could still compete in F1 at age 40 in 2029, the 35-year-old Finn replied, "Why not? I feel like I'm in top form both physically and mentally."
