Valtteri Bottas' first call-up to the Mercedes F1 squad also came in late-season circumstances.
The Finn was brought in to replace Nico Rosberg, who announced just days after winning the F1 title in 2016 that he would be retiring from racing.
Bottas spent five seasons at the Brackley-based squad alongside Lewis Hamilton during the Briton's dominant period of championship success before leaving to join Alfa Romeo (now Stake) in 2022.
He has since admitted that linking up with the project was a “mistake”, having spent much of the stint towards the back of the grid.
But will his new adventure with Mercedes produce similar regrets to his Stake tenure, or will it present a new lease of life for the 10-time grand prix winner?
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Bottas has clearly signalled his intentions by opting to sign as a reserve driver despite having such a strong resume.
In terms of race wins, he has the fourth highest from the 2024 grid, trailing only the multi-time champions of Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
His 67 career podiums place him 10th on the all-time list, scoring more than most of the F1 champions that came before him.
Bottas was assertive at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that he does not feel his time on the F1 grid is not yet wrapped up.
“I still don't think it's guaranteed that it's my last race - that's my feeling,” he said, prior to the start of the weekend.
Bottas is looking to an immediate return to the grid in 2026, a similar comeback to what we've seen in recent times from the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo.
With the F1 achievements he has piled up to date, it would be cruel to dismiss his prospects so suddenly.
But what has the potential to hurt Bottas is being a consistent fixture towards the rear of the F1 grid across the last three seasons. He was out of the limelight and unable to showcase the performances that made him part of Mercedes' formidable set-up from 2017 to 2021.
Being a reserve driver relegates him a step further as he watches Russell - the driver who replaced him at Mercedes - and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli usher the team into a new era.
While he will no doubt be ready to perform should he be needed, the crucial developments for Bottas will be occurring behind the scenes.
A new chapter in 2026?
Bottas' comeback quest is unique to examples in the recent past.
For 2026, an 11th team will join the grid as General Motors enters as the Cadillac F1 team, expanding the grid to 22 cars for the first time since 2016.
Bottas must be considered a favourite for the drive as the operation will no doubt want to have at least one experience name in its arsenal.
His pitch for the drive only needs to be what he has achieved in F1 so far, and what he can bring to the table after working with various teams throughout his career.
Cadillac may well be unbothered about Bottas' lack of competitive machinery in recent years as it is not expected to join the grid with a field-beater.
However, should the team opt to go another route entirely with its driver line-up, it will likely signal the end for Bottas and his tenure in F1.
Very few drivers are keen to actively sit as a reserve driver, especially those who have been around for more than a decade and achieved so much as a full-time driver.
Should his decision to stay in the paddock conversation fail to materialise in a 2026 seat, it may be considered another year wasted with the focus away from other passions.
Only time will tell if such an opening presents itself to Bottas, who still feels he deserves a spot on the grid.
Ultimately though, it's not his decision to make.
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