Source:REUTERS/Go Nakamura
[Saba Sports News] Recently, former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas secretly drove McLaren’s MCL60 car for testing in Barcelona, drawing widespread attention. This marks Bottas’s first return to an F1 cockpit since losing his seat at Alfa Romeo in 2024, and his ambiguous relationship with the McLaren team has triggered a series of reactions. Reportedly, this test is part of a testing activity arranged by McLaren to familiarize Bottas with the team’s operations in case Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri unexpectedly misses a race. However, Bottas’s official position remains as the third driver for Mercedes, and he has previously stated that he will participate in all of Mercedes’ races in the 2025 season. Such a “two-timing” arrangement is quite rare in the F1 paddock. In response, McLaren conducted crisis management to clarify that IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward is still the team’s third driver. F1 insiders speculate that this test may be laying the groundwork for a driver seat in the 2026 season when Bottas’s contract with Mercedes expires.