168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Valtteri Bottas says there is “still a bit of work to do” before he can return to Mercedes in a reserve capacity for the 2025 F1 season.

The 35-year-old Finn has been left witho💧ut a full-time dr💯ive next season after losing his Sauber seat to Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto.

Bottas has been heavily linked🐟 with a return to Mercedes and is the favourite to replace current reserve Mick Schumacher, whose departure at the end of the year wꦬas confirmed on Thursday ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff rꦚecently said it is "a matter of time” before Bottas completes a reunion with the team he drove for five years between 2017 and 2021.

Asked by wꦛhether returning to Mercedes is his priority, Bottas replied: “I don't really want to say it's a priority.

“I think it’s a really solid option, and I really appreciate what Toto said la𝔍st weekend. There's, a still bit of work to do to finalise some things.

“It’s been a while that I'm now in the situation that I can decide, ꩲyes or no on some few different things now.

“So, just want to wait at leꦅast few more days, or one or two weeks, probably get o💯ver with the season, then sit down, and we’ll see.”

The 10-time grand prix winner wants to stay invꦉolved in F1 to boost his chances of returning on a full-time basis in 2026.

With General Motors set to enter as F🅷1’s 11th team from 2026, two extra seats woℱuld open up on the grid.

“T🍌he priority for me still Formula 1, I feel like I'm not done yet with this sport,” Bottꦕas said.

“So, I think to be around, to be able to hopefully do some testi💦ng, etc., I think it gives me a cha༒nce for 2026, because in this sport, you just never know what happens.

“There iꩲs also a new team joining, which means to two more seats. So, it obviously increases the opportunities for 2026.”

Asked if General Motors’ anticipated arrival would help his bid, Bottas replied: “I think that's just increased the chances of getting 💫a seat for 2026, which ultimately is the goal.

“But, like I said, if not, the🅰n there's lots of other cool things in other series.𝓡”

Bottas will take part in the Race of Champions nextꦰ year and is open to more one-off races, though he insists he will not be racing full❀-time anywhere in 2025.

The Indy 500 👍and one-off appearances in V8 🎃Supercars are among the events Bottas revealed he would consider.