Williams third driver Valtteri Bottas unlikely to make racing return in Macau Grand Prix
Williams Formula 1 test driver Valtteri Bottas is set to turn down an offer to return to the Macau Grand Prix this year


The Finn, who has not raced this year so he can focus on his free practice driving duties in Formula 1, has been contacted by British Formula 3 team Double R Racing about competing in the prestigious Far Eastern event in November.
Bottas , but he told AUTOSPORT that he is unlikely to accept the offer to go back.
"Double R asked me and I haven't answered yet," said the 2011 GP3 champion. "But I think it's unlikely. I've already been three times and it wasn't third time lucky.
"It's a big race for Formula 3. Everyone knows it and it's such a cool track, and I haven't won the race. But I think it's definitely more than 50 per cent likely that I am not going."
Bottas explained that the difficulty in taking on Formula 3 regulars as a category outsider also played a part in his thinking.
"Last year, already it was a bit difficult after doing GP3 and then jumping into an F3 car," he added.
"This year there would be those guys who have done many years of F3 and are very comfortable with the car. It would be very difficult to do."
The 23-year-old said that the priority for him and his management, which includes double world champion Mika Hakkinen, .
"We are pushing for a Formula 1 seat," he said. "I want to push for that as much as possible, and if we see that it's not possible then we need to look at other options.
"Two years without racing anything [would be] too long for me. I need to race something, but we will look at the options."

Antonio Felix da Costa confident for GP3 title showdown
GP3 Series reveals new 400bhp car to be raced from 2013

Latest news
Laser Tools Racing continues in BTCC with Hill
The Laser Tools Racing name that was carried to British Touring Car Championship titles in 2020 and 2021 will continue in the series after all with Jake Hill.
McLaren to share F1 reserve driver Schumacher with Mercedes
Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher will be also made available as a stand-in to McLaren, the Woking team has announced.
NASCAR Next Gen car gets safety upgrades for 2023 season
NASCAR unveiled some changes to the Next Gen car for the 2023 season, with most enhancing its safety aspects.
O’Ward optimistic about Rossi and that McLaren IndyCar DNFs can be reduced
Arrow McLaren ace Pato O’Ward says he’s confident that Alexander Rossi will be a strong addition to the line-up and that the team has gotten on top of its mechanical woes.
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
The ladder to F1 never gets any less slippery. But a strong cast of Formula 3 and Formula 2 aces proved sure of foot as they continued their climbs in 2022
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying
Prema Racing has long dominated FIA Formula 3, taking the teams’ title in two of the past three seasons. But its start to 2022 has been trickier than usual, and the answers lie in its qualifying performance
How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape
With just five points separating the top five after two rounds, FIA Formula 3 looks set for another thrilling season in 2022. But who stands the best chance of pulling away from that pack, and who are the contenders bubbling under?
The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path
Joining the FIA Formula 3 grid as a rookie with a team new to the series could prove daunting for most, but then there aren't many drivers who have the extensive experience Franco Colapinto brings from his time racing sportscars. The Argentinian explains how his LMP2 experience is already helping him in 2022
The British trio hunting for F3 title glory
The 2022 FIA Formula 3 season kicks off this weekend in Bahrain. British trio Zak O’Sullivan, Ollie Bearman and Jonny Edgar have all become proteges of Formula 1 teams, and are talents to watch this year
How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors
His career has been a slowburner but Gregoire Saucy trounced a collection of F1 juniors in Formula Regional by Alpine last year, and now he’s preparing to do it again in FIA F3. Here’s how the Swiss caught the world by surprise in 2021 and how he plans to do it all over again
Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021
With a veritable feast of feeder series talent in 2021, FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 produced some of its most exciting racing yet. Although Prema Racing drivers once again dominated the respective series, drivers from other teams also stole the limelight to mark themselves out as stars of the future, or validate their highly-regarded standing
Subscribe and access Autosport.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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.