Valtteri Bottas has earned praise for his role in helping Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli find his footing at Suzuka, according to the team's assessment.
Auto Motor und Sport's Formula 1 editor Michael Schmidt reports that the Finn, who lost his Sauber race seat at the end of last season, has made a significant impact since rejoining Mercedes as their reserve driver for 2025.
Bottas, a former race winner with the team, is keeping his profile active in the paddock while also serving as a de-facto mentor to 18-year-old Antonelli.
Last week, the 35-year-old took part in a 'TPC' test day with McLaren, another Mercedes-powered outfit, where he remains a potential stand-in option for the season. Looking ahead, Bottas is already tied to Cadillac for 2026.
At Suzuka, his presence alongside Antonelli proved invaluable. "I'm not going to lie," the young Italian confessed after qualifying, "I was pretty lost and had very little confidence."
Yet Antonelli managed to secure P6 on the grid, just two tenths and one position behind his in-form teammate George Russell.
Schmidt highlights Bottas' contribution to this turnaround. "He had problems all the time in the first sector," the journalist explained. "The tyre temperature wasn't right at the start of the lap. According to Mercedes, Bottas did a very good job of coaching. He gave some tips on how to get the tyre temperature right so that he has grip in that first sector. It worked in all of the runs after that."
