Max Verstappen could find himself driving alongside Valtteri Bottas in 2025 - a man Lewis Hamilton reportedly tried to keep from leaving Mercedes and once described as the "best team-mate I've had". The Dutchman has had Sergio Perez alongside him at Red Bull for the past four seasons.
The Mexican's disappointing performances throughout the current campaign have sparked speculation about whether the reigning Constructors Championship winners will look to replace the 34-year-old in 2025. With much of the grid either set to stay at their current team or having already agreed to jump ship next year, options to replace Perez are dwindling.
However, Formula One broadcaster Jennie Gow has put forth the possibility of Bottas becoming Verstappen's latest team-mate. The outgoing Sauber F1 star is without a seat for 2025 due to the announcement of Gabriel Bortoleto becoming Nico Hulkenberg's colleague in an all new driver lineup for the rebranded Audi F1 team.
The 35-year-old certainly has a wealth of experience to offer Red Bull as well achieving 10 race wins throughout his career. Having raced alongside Hamilton for five years at Mercedes, the pair shared a close bond with the Brit branding him as the greatest team-mate he's had during his 18-year F1 career.
Following the Finn's move to Alfa Romeo in 2022, Hamilton paid tribute to Bottas who finished runner-up in the championship in both 2019 and 2020. In a message he posted to social media, the 39-year-old said: "He has been the best team-mate I've had the pleasure of working with.
"Your speed and resilience has been impressive but where you truly stand out to me is the human being you are, you are greater than you know and I know there's a bright future ahead for you." Former F1 team manager Peter Windsor claimed that Hamilton tried to stop Bottas from leaving in 2022 due to their chemistry and how well they worked as a team.
"Lewis always wanted to keep Valtteri, not necessarily because he loved Valtteri but because it was the right balance of the team," Windsor said on his YouTube channel. "He could feel that. That was the same as Max Verstappen [and] Sergio Perez. It came to the surface more than ever before, I think, in the Japanese Grand Prix."
During an appearance on The Fast and Curious podcast, Gow has suggested Bottas as an ideal partner for the three-time reigning world champion should they decide to part ways with Perez. She said: "If I said the words to you, 'Valtteri Bottas joins Red Bull', would you find that totally weird?
"Just say Red Bull were looking for a stop gap for that second seat. If you looked at second drivers, someone who would just sit in that seat, do what they’ve been asked to do. He’s fast, he plays the team game very well. If they were looking for a stop gap, so they didn’t expose their younger drivers to too much too soon, I would say that would be a good fit.
"We know Carlos Sainz can’t go [to Red Bull], he’s already signed with Williams and the dads [Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Sr] don’t get on. So you can’t put him in that seat, but someone like a Valtteri Bottas [could work]." While laying out a logical argument for Red Bull chasing Bottas, she admitted it's unlikely to happen.
"I don’t know," she answered when asked whether Bottas will replace Perez. "I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone’s [considered it], but all of a sudden I was like: ‘Have I come up with something?’ It’s genius."
