Flavio Briatore, Alpine's executive adviser, claims the team assisted Valtteri Bottas in securing his 2026 Formula 1 seat with Cadillac.
Why it matters: This revelation clarifies Bottas's future and sheds light on the unseen negotiations within F1, challenging previous rumors linking him to Alpine.
The big picture: Cadillac recently announced Bottas and former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez as its debut line-up for its 2026 F1 entry. Bottas, set to leave Sauber at the end of 2024, had signed with Mercedes as a reserve driver before this Cadillac deal.
Briatore's take: While rumors suggested Bottas was a candidate for Alpine, Briatore stated discussions were "never serious" for a driving role. Instead, he explained: "We did some marketing... I think Alpine helped Bottas a little bit to sign the contract with Cadillac."
Briatore, who respects Bottas as a "super driver," noted his misfortune of being Lewis Hamilton's teammate at Mercedes during Hamilton's peak. He added, "It’s nice to have Valtteri back. It’s nice to have a driver back with a lot of experience, but I’m looking for something else [for Alpine]."
Mercedes' support: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has also championed Bottas's move to Cadillac, praising his speed and consistency.
Wolff highlighted Bottas's challenge against Lewis Hamilton and his strong performance against all subsequent teammates. "Valtteri has tremendous speed and is, in our opinion, one of the best drivers on the grid," Wolff said.
He expressed joy for Bottas's new opportunity: "We’re racers, and we love for him to have the opportunity of going back onto the grid in an exciting new project, and I’m sure he will shine."