Toto Wolff confirms Alpine’s interest in Bottas
Struggling this season, the French team is already considering its future. While several names are on the table, Valtteri Bottas is gaining in importance. This information has been confirmed by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
Valtteri Bottas finally with Alpine? The rumor is gaining more and more traction in the F1 paddock in recent days. Dropped by Sauber last season after finishing the year without a single point, the Finn quickly found refuge at Mercedes, his former team, as a third driver and mentor for the young rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
However, the former Williams driver has never hidden his intention to return to F1, believing that his chapter wasn’t over yet. Initially considered for the future F1 team Cadillac, Bottas even appeared in a video where he was standing in front of a Cadillac SUV, stating: “What a beautiful seat. I see there are two seats – they both seem free.” A voice then invites him to sit in the seat, and the Finn responds: “Not yet.” However, for several days, another team has been interested in the former Mercedes driver: Alpine.
After Doohan and Colapinto, a third teammate for Gasly?
The French team is coming off a successful weekend at Silverstone with a sixth-place finish obtained by Pierre Gasly but remains at the bottom of the standings, as the Frenchman has scored all the team’s points since the start of the season. After starting the season with Jack Doohan, Alpine decided after six races to replace him with former Williams driver Franco Colapinto, hoping for better results. Unfortunately, after six races, the Argentine has not lived up to the expectations placed on him.
In Great Britain, his weekend went from bad to worse with an accident during Q1 and a gearbox problem that prevented him from starting on Sunday, even though he was already starting from the back of the grid. This was enough to fuel rumors of Bottas’ arrival before the end of the season. When asked by Viaplay at Silverstone about possible discussions with Flavio Briatore, the Finn simply replied: « Yes, you could say that. »
Alpine or Cadillac: a tough choice for Bottas
His boss Toto Wolff was more talkative and gave some details. “I have spoken several times with Flavio on the subject. I saw him today, and we discussed Valtteri. It seems that the interest around him is still growing. He deserves this seat. If someone recruits him as a main driver, we will let him go. Of course, with a tear in the corner of our eye. I am simply giving him advice as a friend. Valtteri will make his decision with his entourage. I try to stay in the background,” said the Austrian.
Alpine, Cadillac: there are many contenders for the man with ten F1 victories who seems increasingly close to a return to F1. The question now is which team it will be.
