As the Formula 1 silly season continues, there’s still a number of unanswered questions for the 2025 driver lineup.
One of those is who will partner Alex Albon at Williams. Now it looks like we might know the answer to that question.
Williams have confirmed that their super-talented driver Alex Albon will stay with them until 2025 and beyond. So what about their second seat, currently filled by the American Lgoan Sargeant?
According to sources from Speedcafe and Finnish outlet VSabladet, Valtteri Bottas is reportedly set to return to Williams for the 2025 Formula 1 season, replacing Logan Sargeant. The experienced Finnish driver is expected to make a comeback to the team where he began his F1 career.
Bottas, who currently drives for Kick Sauber (soon to be rebranded as Audi), was recently seen meeting Williams’ team principal, James Vowles, during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend. This fueled speculation about his potential move. Bottas downplayed the meeting, describing it as a casual conversation about life, but he hinted that he is exploring his options as a free agent.
When asked about his future, Bottas stated, “I think these next weeks, things will start to move. That’s the target.” This indicates that negotiations might soon lead to an official announcement. Bottas also acknowledged the importance of staying in the loop with potential opportunities, adding, “Of course, when you’re on the free market, you want to check around what’s out there.”
Williams are currently battling in the midfield and looking to solidify their 2025 lineup, with star driver Alex Albon already confirmed.
Despite the Bottas rumors, a Williams spokesperson told Speedcafe, “There are always rumors in F1 and we aren’t paying any attention to them. We have an exciting driver line-up and our focus is on the very tight midfield battle this year.”
Bottas’ return to Williams would see him rejoin the team where he spent his first four seasons in Formula 1 from 2013 to 2016. During his time with Williams, Bottas established himself as a talented and reliable driver, which eventually led to his move to Mercedes in 2017. There Bottas played a crucial role in securing multiple Constructors’ Championships alongside Lewis Hamilton.
With his extensive experience and proven track record, Bottas would be a valuable and reliable addition to Williams as they try and battle their way to the top of the midfield.
Logan Sargeant faces an uncertain future. His performances at Williams have always been overshadowed by those of his teammate Alex Albon, and he’s not had a good record of finishes. He’s the only American driver on the grid, however, so does give the home fans someone to cheer on at the three stateside Grand Prix.
This development would add another layer of intrigue to the F1 driver market, which is already buzzing with speculation about various moves for the 2025 season. Nico Hulkenberg has secured a seat for next year with Audi while Carlos Sainz is another prominent name linked with the same German manufacturer, making it likely that both Bottas and Zhou will lose their seats regardless.
As the 2024 season progresses, eyes will be on Williams and Bottas to see if the rumored deal materializes. If it does, Bottas’ return to Williams might feel like a step backwards in the Finn’s career, but it could be a big step forwards for the team.
