Toto Wolff, following the qualifying round for the British GP, confirmed that he is in discussions with Alpine’s top advisor, Flavio Briatore, about Valtteri Bottas. According to the Mercedes team boss, interest in his Finnish reserve driver is growing, as his potential return to the grid is once again a topic of conversation. Briatore is reportedly in desperate search of a reliable replacement for Franco Colapinto; after another disappointment at Silverstone, the Argentine is on the chopping block.
The increased interest in Bottas comes at a time when Alpine is struggling with performance issues. For instance, Franco Colapinto had an unfortunate qualifying round at Silverstone on Saturday – the young driver made a costly mistake in the Club corner and ended up in the gravel. Although he managed to steer his car back onto the track, his qualifying round was over. Due to subsequent engine adjustments by Alpine, he will also have to start the race from the pit lane.
The timing of the incident is extremely unfortunate for Colapinto. His performance has been under scrutiny for some time, and his future with the team seems far from certain. Since he was called up to replace Jack Doohan after the Miami GP, he has not scored any points. Alpine’s top advisor, Flavio Briatore, is reportedly now looking at Mercedes’ reserve Valtteri Bottas, an experienced force in Formula 1 and a highly sought-after driver. The new Cadillac team has also shown interest in the eccentric Finn.
Shedding a Tear
During an interview with Viaplay, Wolff confirmed that Briatore, who effectively pulls the strings at Alpine, had already reached out to him: “Several times, yes. Today we also discussed Valtteri Bottas (Bottas, ed.). There seems to be quite a lot of interest in him.” The Mercedes team boss reiterated his full support for Bottas in his search for a new contract. “I have always said that I will never block him,” said Wolff. “He deserves to be in a racing car, he has done so well. If another team wants to offer him a full-time contract, we will let him go – although we will have to shed a tear.”
Wolff emphasized that he is acting in an advisory role, but the final decision lies with Bottas himself. “In the end, I give him advice as a friend, but Valtteri and his management make their own choices,” he concluded. “I try to stay in the background.” Bottas may soon join Alpine. In terms of contract negotiations, the Finn is looking for a long-term project. A simple stand-in at the French team seems undesirable, although it would give him a stronger negotiating position with Cadillac.
