Valtteri Bottas may be serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes right now, but his potential Formula 1 future remains one of the major discussion points in the paddock. With the veteran driver linked to both the incoming Cadillac team for next season, and a potential move to Alpine for the remainder of this season, Bottas remains in high regard in F1.
Following an appearance with Mercedes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past weekend, Bottas is in the middle of a two-day Testing of Previous Car [TPC] test with the team at Circuito de Jerez in Spain. The driver shared on social media that he completed 113 laps on Monday, with “more to come” on Tuesday:
Bottas has long been rumored as one of the leading options for the incoming Cadillac team for next season, and a cheeky social media post from the driver earlier this summer only fueled those notions.
But in the runup to the British Grand Prix, he was linked to a spot on the current grid, as Alpine looks to solidify their second seat alongside Pierre Gasly. After sidelining Jack Doohan in favor of Franco Colapinto, Senior Advisor Flavio Briatore is assessing options for the team. Alpine reached an agreement with Sauber to allow reserve driver Paul Aron a pair of FP1 sessions ahead of the summer break — first at the British Grand Prix and later at the Hungarian Grand Prix — and then word broke that Alpine was considering a move for Bottas.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff confirmed that such discussions were taking place.
“A few times, actually,” said Wolff at Silverstone when asked if he had spoken with Briatore about Bottas.
“I saw him today and we talked about Valtteri. It seems that the interest in Valtteri is increasing even more. He deserves that seat. If someone grabs him as a race driver, we’ll let him go. Of course, with a tear in the corner of our eye.
“Ultimately, I give him advice as a friend. Valtteri ultimately makes the choice with his management.
“I try to stay in the background.”
That time in the background for both Wolff, and Bottas, may be running out.
