Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Valtteri Bottas: IndyCar Could Be In His Future if F1 Ride Doesn't Happen

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jerry Bonkowski | Last updated Mar 16, 2025 2:12 PM ET

Valtteri Bottas could soon join several former Formula One expatriates to move to IndyCar.

The Finnish driver, who is serving as an F1 reserve driver for Mercedes this season, told the Dutch publication Formule 1 (via GrandPrix.com) that he is examining his options going forward after this season.

Among those options: the 35-year-old could remain with Mercedes as a reserve driver, and he is also mentioned as one of several drivers reportedly under consideration for one of the two driver spots for the new Cadillac F1 team that begins in competition next year.

"I'm really focused on Formula 1 now, but it's difficult to predict the future,” Bottas said. “Maybe next year I'll still be in the same role I am in now. But next year still feels a long way off at the moment. But then I have to consider the alternatives.”

If either the Mercedes or Cadillac options do not pan out, then one of those alternatives is IndyCar, Bottas concedes.

“IndyCar would definitely be a good option,” he said, although he admits, “I'm not really thinking about it at the moment.”

If Bottas leaves F1 and comes to IndyCar, he’d join a number of former drivers who’ve made the same emigration move, including Emerson Fittipaldi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato, Alexander Rossi, Romain Grosjean, Marcus Ericsson, Danny Sullivan and Eddie Cheever.

Bottas competed in F1 from 2013 through 2024, losing his ride with Sauber at the end of last season. Of particular note for him was the period between 2014 to 2021: Bottas recorded back-to-back F1 season runner-up finishes (2019 and 2020) and finished outside of the top 5 just once (8^th, 2016).

During his F1 career, Bottas earned 10 race wins, 67 podiums and 20 pole positions. But he also has experienced frustration, holding the F1 record for most career points without a World Drivers’ Championship (1,797 points).

As for his immediate future, Bottas says, “At the moment everything is wide open and I'm just grateful that I've been given this opportunity to come back to (Mercedes).”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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