Bottas Nears 2026 F1 Return with Cadillac, Alpine Talks

Valtteri Bottas, currently Mercedes' reserve driver and a former teammate of Lewis Hamilton, is actively seeking a full-time Formula 1 seat for the 2026 season. He is a leading candidate for a spot with the newly entering American team Cadillac, which is preparing to join the F1 grid and is reportedly paying a premium to attract top talent. Simultaneously, Alpine has expressed interest in Bottas as a potential replacement for struggling driver Franco Colapinto, with Alpine's executive advisor Flavio Briatore holding talks with Mercedes' Toto Wolff about Bottas' availability. Bottas' familiarity with Mercedes engines, which Alpine will use starting next year, makes him an appealing option for the team. While Cadillac has yet to announce their driver lineup, Bottas has hinted at a potential deal with the team, though Cadillac's team principal has downplayed the significance of recent social media posts. Bottas has set a personal deadline of August to finalize his future, possibly weighing offers from both Alpine and Cadillac amid a competitive driver market.