Alpine exploring surprise in-season move for Bottas

Alpine’s struggling 2025 Formula 1 campaign may be on the brink of a major shake-up, with reports emerging that team advisor and acting boss Flavio Briatore has made contact with Mercedes to enquire about the availability of reserve driver Valtteri Bottas.

The veteran Finn – currently without a full-time race seat after being dropped by Sauber last year – is apparently a person of interest for Alpine as a potential short-term and long-term solution should the team opt to replace Franco Colapinto, who is currently operating on a race-by-race contract.

According to The Race, conversations between Alpine and Mercedes remain at a preliminary stage, but sources close to the matter suggest Briatore is assessing all available options as frustrations continue to mount over the performance of Alpine’s second car.

Bottas has made no secret of his desire to return to the Formula 1 grid on a permanent basis.

While most of the speculation around his future had centered on a potential deal with the new Cadillac team entering F1 in 2026, Alpine could now offer a more immediate lifeline.

Alpine’s interest in Bottas is said to be partially motivated by the team’s desire to get more reliable feedback on the performance of its A525 package, something an experienced hand like Bottas could provide.

And with Alpine set to become a Mercedes customer from 2026, Mercedes is reportedly open to letting Bottas go should the opportunity arise.

Briatore Turns Up the Heat on Colapinto

Colapinto, 22, has struggled to make an impression since replacing Jack Doohan at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May. His best result remains a pair of 13th-place finishes in Monaco and Canada, and he failed to progress past Q2 at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend.

Briatore made no effort to hide his frustration after the qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring.

“Clearly the car was good enough for Q3, but we are still lacking having two cars up where they should be,” said Briatore.

“Franco was through Q1 but too far away to reach Q3, which we need to improve if we are to put ourselves in a more competitive position with both cars.”

Though the Argentine driver has acknowledged the pressure he’s under, he also pointed to the car’s shortcomings in explaining his recent form.

“As a team – and I am on the team – [the thing] is focusing as well on improving the car,” Colapinto said after the race in Austria, quoted by The Race.

“We looked a bit weak and we just need to do some steps forward. The car has been a bit tricky for me to drive at the moment. It's not very consistent.

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"It's quick, but that [the way it reacts] just didn't give me that confidence that I needed to go in the high-speed areas.

“It was a tough weekend, overall we did some steps forward, but it just felt like something didn't click.”

When asked if he was concerned that Briatore might soon decide to replace him, Colapinto insisted he wasn’t worried.

“No, I'm not really concerned. I think he has been very supportive and he trusts me,” he said.

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