Valtteri Bottas bids emotional goodbye to Mercedes in funny final F1 Explains video
Valtteri Bottas bids farewell to Mercedes with a humorous F1 Explains video as he prepares to join the new Cadillac Formula 1 team
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Valtteri Bottas is set to leave his role as the Mercedes reserve driver at the end of the season as he makes a move to the Cadillac Formula 1 team in 2026.
Bottas, having previously raced for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, returned to the Brackley outfit in 2024 after losing his seat at Sauber. The Finnish driver has become a fan favourite for his fun and sarcastic humour, and this has continued through to the final F1 Explains video he has done for Mercedes.
"Hi everyone, this is leaving an F1 team explained," he said to the camera as he pretended to wipe away tears from his eyes, "by Valtteri Bottas."
"In F1, leaving an F1 team obviously will happen eventually. It's quite sad. I've done it a few times in my career. It's not easy. But, if you think positively, in the end, there's 11 teams in the paddock next year. So we are all one big family and we are going to see each other again."
The video cuts to a montage of the driver hugging various members of the team accompanied by operatic music.
"One tradition as well is when you leave a team in Formula 1, after the race in Abu Dhabi, you're going to end up in the marina, swimming, whether you like it or not," he added.
"Leaving a team is never easy. I just want to say thank you, Mercedes."
As the video fades to black, it cuts to a close-up of the Finn with the cameraman explaining they are going to need him to return the watch and team kit. The video once again cuts to a slow-motion montage of some of Bottas's best bits as a reserve driver with the same emotional music.
Bottas will join the incoming Cadillac F1 team in 2026 alongside former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez as the American outfit becomes the 11th team on the grid.
Photos from Abu Dhabi GP - Practice & Qualifying
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Saturday, in photos
Share Or Save This Story
Serena Williams celebrates Lewis Hamilton after milestone Ferrari F1 win
Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari win celebrations spill into the streets in Italy
Lewis Hamilton shares defiant message after landmark Ferrari F1 win
Valtteri Bottas slams "b*******" Cadillac F1 exit rumours
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas reveals FBI involvement after Cadillac stolen during Miami GP weekend
Lando Norris: Ferrari would "embarrass" F1 rivals with stronger engine
How Ferrari built the perfect trap to beat Mercedes at the Barcelona GP
What does Kimi Antonelli still need to improve to become F1 world champion?
Notebooks and no-nonsense: How "very interesting" Fornaroli impressed Stella in Barcelona
Serena Williams celebrates Lewis Hamilton after milestone Ferrari F1 win
"I'm not a machine": Isack Hadjar blasts Red Bull start procedure
Why Le Mans DNF was a “dagger in the heart” of Bourdais
Notebooks and no-nonsense: How "very interesting" Fornaroli impressed Stella in Barcelona
What next for Honda now its engine is confirmed as F1's weakest?
What were the chances of Hamilton winning in Barcelona without the virtual safety car?
Can Lewis Hamilton now fight for the F1 world title with Ferrari? Our writers have their say
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments