Mercedes “Excited” Over New Era After Lewis Hamilton’s Departure, Says Bottas
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes’ current reserve driver and former full-time racer, has shared his insights on the team’s atmosphere following the departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. According to Bottas, Mercedes is embracing a new era with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, especially with their exciting new driver lineup of George Russell and teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, left Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari in pursuit of an elusive eighth title. In his place, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli was promoted from Mercedes’ junior ranks to partner with Russell, who is now clearly positioned as the team leader. The new duo has already shown promising results in the 2025 season, helping elevate Mercedes to third place in the constructors’ standings.
George Russell has impressed with four podium finishes in the first nine races, while Antonelli has made a strong rookie impact, scoring 48 points so far. In contrast, Hamilton has managed only 71 points with Ferrari, trailing Russell by a considerable 40-point margin.
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Bottas revealed that despite Hamilton’s departure, Mercedes remains driven by the same winning mentality that characterized their dominant years. “In the end, the spirit is still the same,” said Bottas. “The winning mentality is still there; everyone is working as hard as ever, trying to improve and solve problems.”
He acknowledged that losing a figure as iconic as Hamilton has changed the dynamic within the team. However, he said it’s not necessarily a negative shift. Instead, there is a growing sense of excitement about the future. “It’s hard to describe the feeling, but I think there has been some excitement over young Kimi and George being the more senior driver. Maybe it’s a bit more chilled in a way,” Bottas added.
Antonelli, seen as one of the brightest prospects in Formula 1, has lived up to expectations in his debut season. His performances have not only earned praise from the team but also from the wider F1 community, with many tipping him as a future world champion.
As for Bottas himself, the Finn is not ready to say goodbye to full-time racing just yet. After being dropped by Sauber at the end of 2024, he accepted a role as Mercedes’ reserve driver. However, he remains on standby for other teams as well, including McLaren and Williams, in case a temporary replacement is needed due to injury, illness, or suspension.
Despite his current backup role, Bottas remains determined to return to the grid as a full-time driver in 2026. He has made it clear that Mercedes would not block any mid-season opportunity that comes his way. “If the right opportunity presents itself, I know Mercedes will let me take it,” he confirmed.
One potential opportunity lies with the new Cadillac team, set to enter Formula 1 in 2026. With two new seats opening up, several experienced drivers are expected to be in contention, including Bottas. Additionally, he recently disclosed that he was in talks with Alpine toward the end of the 2024 season, adding to the speculation surrounding their 2026 driver lineup.
For now, Bottas is enjoying his time behind the scenes, contributing to Mercedes’ progress while remaining hopeful about his future. As Mercedes adapts to life without Hamilton, the team seems energized by the youth and talent of Russell and Antonelli—and Bottas could still have a part to play in the sport’s next chapter.
