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

Ahead of the Qatar GP, the veteran driver spoke about his future in F1 and what his motorsports moves in 2025 could be.

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

A statement from the German car company said the Gulf state would buy a “significant minority” in the team, which is entering F1 in 2026. The deal will be completed next year, after Audi has taken full ownership of the Sauber team that is the basis for its entry.

The Qatar Investment Authority is buying a stake in the Audi Formula One racing team, joining other Gulf sovereign funds who have been channeling their vast wealth into global sports franchises.

Lando Norris has dismissed as “comedy” a reported claim by Max Verstappen that he could have secured the Formula 1 title earlier if he’d had the same McLaren car as Norris, his closest challenger

Lando Norris joked that Max Verstappen should go into comedy after the Red Bull driver claimed he would have won this year’s F1 world title sooner if he was driving in a McLaren. Verstappen sealed his fourth successive world championship in Las Vegas last weekend,

DOHA–Lando Norris has suggested Max Verstappen consider a career in comedy after the quadruple world champion claimed he would have also won this season’s Formula One title if driving a McLaren or a Ferrari instead of a Red Bull.