Two Formula One teams have shown interest in signing a 10-time race winner, and he could snatch another driver’s seat as early as this season.
Silly season started early in F1, with a host of driver changes and rumours leading up to Christian Horner’s firing as Red Bull’s Team Principal.
There is a new team entering the fray next season, and the current teams on the grid are always looking to make improvements to their line-ups. Some are more trigger-happy than others, it must be said.
We’re not even at the summer break, but two teams are reportedly circling this race winner.
Alpine and Cadillac are interested in signing Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas, a 10-time race winner with Mercedes, was ousted from his Sauber seat by Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortaletto and has been serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver in 2025.
During his four years at Mercedes, he proved himself to be a talented driver, helping his team win the Constructors’ title every single season alongside Lewis Hamilton. He had two difficult seasons at Sauber, but there are two teams interested in his services.
Firstly, Cadillac, who are entering the sport as F1’s 11th team in 2026. Bottas already dropped a tease that he may be joining the new outfit next season by posting a cheeky video on social media.
Looking at a Cadillac SUV, Bottas said: “What a nice seat. I see there are two seats – both seem free.” A voice off-camera invited him to try sitting down, but Bottas said, “Not yet.”
It was then assumed that Bottas would be driving for Cadillac next season, before Alpine entered the fray. They are bottom of the Constructors’ standings and looking for answers.
They’ve had serious driver struggles to start 2025 as they look for a reliable option besides Pierre Gasly. They swapped Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto six races into the year, and are already considering taking the Argentine out of the seat midway through the year.
Alpine are considering swapping Franco Colapinto for Valtteri Bottas
Alpine’s interest in Bottas was confirmed by Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff. The Austrian, when asked if he had spoken with Alpine boss Flavio Briatore about his driver moving to the Endstone-based team in a press conference before the British Grand Prix, replied: “A few times, actually.
“I saw him today and we talked about Valtteri. It seems that the interest in Valtteri is increasing even more. He deserves that seat. If someone grabs him as a race driver, we’ll let him go. Of course, with a tear in the corner of our eye.
“Ultimately, I give him advice as a friend. Valtteri ultimately makes the choice with his management.
Wolff is pursuing Max Verstappen for a Mercedes seat, so he can hardly justify stopping Bottas from leaving.
Bottas also confirmed the interest in his typical short-worded style. He was asked if he’s had conversations with Briatore, the Finn said: “Yeah, you could say that.”
Alpine have shown they are not shy of swapping out drivers at short notice, and it was reported that Colapinto was given a five-race contract to prove himself. Silverstone was his sixth race so he has surpassed that, but a crash in qualifying saw him out of the race.
Don’t be surprised to see Bottas behind the wheel, therefore, before the season is out.