Mercedes Reveals Valtteri Bottas Almost Raced in Baku GP
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed just how close Valtteri Bottas came to a sensational stand-in return in Baku.
In an unexpected twist, Valtteri Bottas was nearly on the brink of a surprise comeback to the Mercedes cockpit after regular driver George Russell struggled with health issues leading up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Russell's participation was in jeopardy until the eleventh hour, with the Briton himself admitting, "I'm not sure I can do it," before a quick recovery on race day allowed him to take his place on the grid.
The possibility of Bottas, who has remained close to the team since his departure, stepping back in underscores the unpredictable challenges teams face across a grueling F1 season.
Russell’s Resolve Pays Off With P2
Despite doubts over his fitness, Russell defied the odds to deliver a faultless drive, securing a hard-fought second place in Baku.
In Wolff's words, running a full one-and-a-half-hour Grand Prix on challenging rubber without a single misstep was "a super merited P2".
The drive not only highlighted Russell’s mental fortitude but also reinvigorated Mercedes’ hopes in a fiercely contested Constructors’ Championship battle. It was a textbook display of determination from a driver increasingly comfortable in carrying the team’s ambitions when adversity strikes.
Antonelli’s Impressive Recovery After Monza
Further down the Mercedes garage, rookie Kimi Antonelli demonstrated significant progress after a tough European leg, outpacing Russell in Qualifying for a solid fourth-place finish in Baku.
Wolff praised the teenager’s performance as "a really good rebound after Monza," noting Antonelli’s ability to run confidently within the front group and consolidate his claim as one of the season’s standout newcomers.
The result signals valuable momentum for Antonelli and points to a future in which Mercedes has both seasoned leadership and fresh potential at its disposal.
With the Baku weekend offering up both near-crisis and remarkable comebacks, Mercedes emerges with renewed spirit—and the unmistakable sense that, should circumstances ever change, their past and present talents are always ready to rise.
