Latest news with #Bottas
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
F1 team Alpine look to make move to lure Valtteri Bottas from Mercedes for 2026
Formula 1 constructor Alpine have enquired about acquiring 10-time race winner Valtteri Bottas as their second driver in what could be a sensational shake-up on the grid. Alpine are adamant on getting their driver line-up right for 2026 and Bottas, a former Mercedes driver might be the key as the team looks to successfully transition out of a poor year. The Enstone-based team currently sit last in the constructors championship standings with only 11 points. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Their fortunes could be set to change as they look to switch to a Mercedes power unit next year, and a former driver of theirs might just be the perfect fit to help steer their chances. Alpine's executive advisor and de factor team principal Flavio Briatore has enquired with the Silver Arrows about the move with the expectation Mercedes will not stand in the way of their reserve driver landing a permanent seat. Bottas is contracted until the end of the year. While Frenchman Pierre Gasly remains part of the Alpine project moving forward, there are question marks over the second seat currently held by a struggling Frank Colapinto, who already took the seat from Aussie Jack Doohan earlier in the racing season. Bottas suddenly has a couple of suitors. The 35-year-old and former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez are the frontrunners to be the two drivers for Cadillac, which is joining F1 as the sport's 11th team next season. After sacking Doohan, Briatore said Alpine planned to rotate the second seat among their reserve drivers for the reset of the season, depending Colapinto's performance. Highly rated reserve driver Paul Aron will make his debut in the first practice session this weekend at the British Grand Prix for rival team, in an agreement with Alpine. Colapinto has struggled since his debut for the team, still without a point in his five races, however he isn't the only one to blame. Given Gasly has also struggled to perform, notching points on only one occasion since Colapinto's arrival, it's clear the car is not up to the standard that Alpine want. The switch to the Mercedes power unit mean their fortunes could be set to chance next year, meaning a simultaneous driver change could also be in the cards. Bottas makes the most sense, given the experience of 247 grands prix to his name, among them 10 race wins and 67 podiums with Mercedes. The Finnish driver is the reserve driver for Mercedes this year, giving him a unique insight into the development of the 2026 car Alpine will ultimately end up with. Though he remains the reserve driver for Mercedes, his path to the grid remains blocked by George Russell and young sensation Kimi Antonelli who look set to be the driver pairing for the foreseeable future. That is unless Red Bull driver Max Verstappen looks to test his options — the four time champion could find himself in the Mercedes garage if a shock team switch eventuates, but neither scenario helps Bottas.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Why Valtteri Bottas would be the perfect fit for Alpine
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. According to reports, Alpine reached out to Mercedes' reserve driver, Valtteri Bottas, about his availability. Bottas played a key role in Mercedes winning several Constructors' titles. He is well-travelled around the grid, racing for Sauber in a three-season stint. As Audi is taking over, Sauber made the move to replace Bottas with the German veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg. Bottas decided to stay in the sport and join Mercedes again. With a new set of regulations coming in the upcoming season, he is eyeing a seat for the new cars. Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes poses for a photo on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025 in Imola, Italy. Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes poses for a photo on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025 in Imola, Italy. Photo byIn an early June interview, Bottas revealed talks between Alpine and his team. "I think probably there has been some discussions," Bottas explained on F1's "Beyond the Grid." "I haven't really been involved, but I do have a management team who are always in the background seeing what is out there. They do have a Mercedes power unit for the future, which I think is a good call. "They're on their second driver this year and I think the next races will show how that goes. Again, I think on a struggle street, let's say, experience can always help. "But there's lots of politics in this sport. I don't have tens of millions to pay for a seat. Depends on the team but I do have some personal partners that could potentially join me, but still, not to an extent to some others. Let's wait and see a few races and see how things go. You never know if something opens up." Bottas offers a steady, experienced pair of hands behind the wheel. He is familiar with the Mercedes power unit and knows how to get familiar with a new engine formula. Mercedes is reportedly willing to help Bottas make the move to Alpine happen, especially since there is a new partnership between his current team and the French organization. Alpine's current driver situation alongside Pierre Gasly remains muddled, leaving the door open for Bottas. Do we like this seat? — Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) June 23, 2025 Gasly is, without a doubt, the team's lead driver whom they are building around for the future. He is a consistent driver who delivers results and pushes any car he drives further up the grid. Colapinto came over from Williams during the offseason as the reserve driver for a big fee. Despite the expense, Alpine featured Jack Doohan in the second seat of the team, opting to reward a driver from the French team's academy. After not impressing in the leadership, Doohan was given the axe by Alpine in the first half of the season. They promoted Colapinto to the second seat, but through five races, he still hasn't scored a point yet. Alpine's car isn't one of the best on the grid - Gasly has only finished in the points once during Colapinto's scoreless streak. They are still backing Colapinto for the rest of the season. He is continuing to drive for the team on a race-by-race basis. While not the flashiest option, Bottas can help get Alpine back into the midfield amid its run of poor results. He will give specific feedback on car development and knows what teams need in order to win. For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Valtteri Bottas Linked to Alpine F1 Team Amid Cadillac Rumors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas has been linked to a potential move to the Alpine Formula One team in 2026. The report arrives amid talks of him being considered for a seat in the Cadillac F1 team next year, marking the outfit's debut and the beginning of a new era of regulations in the sport. Bottas was dropped by Sauber at the end of 2024. Since then, he has been a reserve driver with Mercedes, a team he raced for from 2017 to 2021. The Finn is keen on a full-time seat with one of the teams on the grid, but with a competitive driver market, Cadillac looked to be ideal way to get back. However, according to a report by The Race, Bottas could be an Alpine F1 driver by the end of this year if the Enstone-based outfit decides to drop Franco Colapinto. For the same reason, Alpine's executive advisor and interim team principal, Flavio Briatore, held talks with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff on Bottas' availability. Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes look son in the paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 15, 2025 in Imola,... Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes look son in the paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 15, 2025 in Imola, Italy. MoreWhile talks have not reached an advanced stage, the reports suggest Briatore's interest in signing Bottas for the future. The shift from Mercedes to Alpine could be a smooth one for the 35-year-old driver, since Alpine is set to become a Mercedes customer team next year. However, it remains to be seen if racing for Alpine is something that appeals to Bottas. If Bottas got really lucky, he could find himself with two offers on the table - one from Alpine and another from Cadillac. However, he has given himself the time until August of this year to finalize his future. Newsweek Sports reported Bottas' comments from a recent interview, where he revealed his interest in Cadillac. He said: "I think they have a few drivers on the list. I would imagine my experience will help because now I've raced in three different teams, with one of the teams having mega success. With Williams as well, we had some great results, so I hope I'm in a good position. "I know my timeline, when I want to know about next year and what plans I need to make, which I think is more or less August, which is a pretty good target for that, and hopefully, we'll hear something more soon. "For me, I actually see a very interesting project, something new to F1, an American team with maybe a different view to the sport. "If I were there as a driver, it would be very interesting because you can start from scratch. "The team starts from zero. You could actually make a big influence on certain things, which direction to go, and that would be very motivating and rewarding when the success comes. "I think the rule change is always a good point to jump in because you just never know, if you suddenly get it right, you might actually be doing really well from the get-go."
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Valtteri Bottas nears F1 return in 2026 with Cadillac: reports
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas is finalising a deal to return to Formula 1 with Cadillac in 2026, multiple news outlets reported. Bottas, currently a reserve driver at Mercedes, added fuel to the speculation with a cheeky video posted to his X feed on Sunday. In it, he opens the door of a Cadillac SUV and has a conversation with someone off camera. 'Oh wow, that's actually a nice seat,' Bottas says while checking out the driver's seat. 'I wouldn't mind.' 'And there's two seats,' the other man points out, prompting this reply from Bottas: 'And they're both free?' Cadillac is entering the championship series next season. Bottas, 35, has made no secret of his desire to regain a full-time F1 seat since being dropped by Sauber at the end of the 2024 season. Bottas owns 10 career wins and 67 podium finishes in nearly 250 starts since 2013 with Sauber, Mercedes, Williams and Alfa Romeo. His last win came at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Valtteri Bottas nears F1 return with Cadillac
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas is finalising a deal to return to Formula 1 with Cadillac in 2026, multiple news outlets reported. Bottas, a reserve driver at Mercedes, added fuel to the speculation with a cheeky video posted to his X feed on Sunday. In it, he opens the door of a Cadillac SUV and has a conversation with someone off camera. 'Oh wow, that's actually a nice seat,' Bottas says while checking out the driver's seat. 'I wouldn't mind.' 'And there's two seats,' the other man points out, prompting this reply from Bottas: 'And they're both free?' But when the other voice asks if he wants to sit down, Bottas answers, 'Not yet.' Cadillac is entering the championship series next season. Bottas, 35, has made no secret of his desire to regain a full-time F1 seat after being dropped by Sauber at the end of the 2024 season. The Finn has 10 career wins and 67 podium finishes in nearly 250 starts since 2013 with Sauber, Mercedes, Williams and Alfa Romeo. His last win came at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.
