Mercedes reserve Mick Schumacher will leave the Formula One team at the end of the season and Valtteri Bottas looks set to replace the German after deciding against making a full-time switch to IndyCar in 2025.

Valtteri Bottas says he is nearing an agreement to return to Mercedes as its reserve driver next year after Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, announced he was leaving.

Mick Schumacher is to leave his role as Mercedes reserve driver at the end of this season. The 25-year-old, who is the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, has been with the team for two years. Mercedes took the German on when he was dropped after two seasons with the US-based Haas outfit.

Valtteri Bottas will compete at next year’s Race of Champions as he eyes new racing opportunities after missing out on an F1 seat for next year. Bottas, who has been an ever-present on the F1 grid since 2013,

Valtteri Bottas said there is “still a bit of work to do” in regards to a Mercedes contract as he moves closer to a reserved driver role. The announcement that Mick Schumacher would be leaving the team at the end of the season opened the door for Bottas to return to his former team but a deal is not signed just yet.