{"id":54411,"date":"2025-07-01T11:07:25","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T11:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=54411"},"modified":"2025-07-01T11:07:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T11:07:25","slug":"valtteri-bottas-alpine-mercedes-reserve-driver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/valtteri-bottas-alpine-mercedes-reserve-driver\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Could Replace Valtteri Bottas As Mercedes Reserve Driver Linked With Shock Alpine Move"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>We&#8217;re taking a look at who could replace Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes&#8217; reserve driver if he completes a rumoured shock return to the Formula One grid with Alpine.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old Finn has been without a race seat since losing his place at Sauber last year.<\/p>\n<p>But Bottas has made it clear he wants a full-time race seat again.<\/p>\n<p>And he has now emerged as the top candidate to replace Franco Colapinto at Alpine, if the French team decides to part ways with the Argentine driver.<\/p>\n<p>According to reports, Alpine boss Flavio Briatore has approached Mercedes about the possibility of hiring reserve driver Bottas.<\/p>\n<p>Talks are said to be in the early stages, but Bottas is regarded as a serious option.<\/p>\n<p>Until this development, many expected Lewis Hamilton&#8217;s former Mercedes teammate to have his best chance of an F1 grid return with Cadillac in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The new team currently have no confirmed drivers for their 2026 entry to the championship.<\/p>\n<p>But with Alpine becoming a Mercedes engine customer next season, it is thought they would have no issues allowing Bottas to race for Alpine.<\/p>\n<p>If that does happen, Mercedes will need a new reserve driver. With no confirmation over who that might be, we&#8217;re taking a look at some options to replace Bottas.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A reminder that Valtteri Bottas remains the only Mercedes driver in history with a 100% Q3 record \ud83d\udcc8 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OSfG1P12nN\">pic.twitter.com\/OSfG1P12nN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Autosport (@autosport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/autosport\/status\/1937483884033458222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Why Are Alpine Considering Valtteri Bottas?<\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s been an awful season so far for Alpine. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/alpine-team-principal-oliver-oakes-quits-after-ten-months\/\"><strong>Team principal Oliver Oakes quit after ten months<\/strong><\/a> in the job.<\/p>\n<p>And with just 11 points from 11 races, the team is bottom of the constructors&#8217; championship.<\/p>\n<p>To make matters worse, nearest rivals Sauber &#8211; Bottas&#8217; former team &#8211; have been steadily improving.<\/p>\n<p>Sauber&#8217;s double-points finish at Austria emphasised how quickly Alpine need to get their house in order.<\/p>\n<p>Number one driver Pierre Gasly has scored all of the team&#8217;s points so far.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/jack-doohan-replaced-franco-colapinto-alpine-formula-1\/\"><strong>Franco Colapinto replaced Jack Doohan after six races<\/strong> <\/a>when the rookie failed to impress. But Colapinto has also struggled, with Briatore stating he needs to see more from the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Clearly the car was good enough for Q3, but we are still lacking having two cars up where they should be,&#8221; said Briatore.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Frankly, this level of performance is increasingly concerning,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8Valterri Bottas is now the leading Candidate to drive for Alpine from later this season onwards.<\/p>\n<p>Not only Bottas but Sergio Perez has held talks in the past few weeks with Alpine just as it seemed the drivers were set for Cadillac.\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddee<\/p>\n<p>If Bottas does go to Alpine, Cadillac will\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/k0cRiuvgPg\">pic.twitter.com\/k0cRiuvgPg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cadillac F1 Team News (@CadillacF1_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CadillacF1_\/status\/1939625946308321671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Valtteri Bottas Alpine Move: Who Could Replace Him At Mercedes?<\/h2>\n<p>While nothing is confirmed, Mercedes will need to replace Bottas if and when he returns to the grid.<\/p>\n<p>In light of this, here are a few options for Mercedes&#8217; reserve driver.<\/p>\n<h3>Franco Colapinto<\/h3>\n<p>Obviously, if Bottas takes Colapinto&#8217;s Alpine seat, the Argentine will be available.<\/p>\n<p>Jack Doohan, who Colapinto replaced earlier this season, is currently working as a reserve driver for the French team.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_48567\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-48567\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-48567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto-560x313.webp\" alt=\"Franco Colapinto alpine\" width=\"560\" height=\"313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto-560x313.webp 560w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto-924x516.webp 924w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto-350x195.webp 350w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto-768x429.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto-1536x858.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/colapinto.webp 1870w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-48567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Franco Colapinto could swap with Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This means that it may be the best option for all involved if Colapinto and Bottas are used in a straight swap, replacing each other.<\/p>\n<p>With Mercedes and Alpine building a closer relationship as engine partners, sharing drivers may become more common.<\/p>\n<h3>Frederick Vesti<\/h3>\n<p>Another option is Frederick Vesti. The 23-year-old Dane was Formula 2 runner up in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Currently racing for Cadillac Whelen in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Vesti actually already works as a Mercedes reserve driver.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54431\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54431\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-54431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/vesti-560x352.webp\" alt=\"valtterri bottas alpine\" width=\"560\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/vesti-560x352.webp 560w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/vesti-924x580.webp 924w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/vesti-350x220.webp 350w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/vesti-768x482.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/vesti.webp 1155w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-54431\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former F2 runner-up Frederick Vesti could take on more Mercedes reserve duties.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But if Bottas were to move on, we may see Vesti take on a bigger role in the team, with the hope of working towards an F1 race seat in future.<\/p>\n<h3>Kimi Antonelli<\/h3>\n<p>And our third option to replace Bottas as Mercedes reserve driver is 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian rookie is currently partnering George Russell in on the grid. He has impressed, at times, in his debut season.<\/p>\n<p>But despite a podium in Canada, rumours are growing the Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is courting four-time world champion Max Verstappen for next season.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45584\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45584\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-45584\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Kimi-Antonelli-560x373.jpg\" alt=\"Kimi Antonelli, Seen Putting on His Headphone\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Kimi-Antonelli-560x373.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Kimi-Antonelli-924x615.jpg 924w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Kimi-Antonelli-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Kimi-Antonelli-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Kimi-Antonelli.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45584\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kimi Antonelli could lose his race seat if Mercedes pursue Max Verstappen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Dutch driver is said to have a release clause in his Red Bull contract, allowing him to quit if he drops below third in the drivers&#8217; championship.<\/p>\n<p>Should Verstappen become available, any team would want him.<\/p>\n<p>And while these are just rumours at the moment, there remains the possibility that Antonelli could lose his seat if Mercedes do go all-in on signing Verstappen.<\/p>\n<p>If that happens, as well as Bottas moving to Alpine or Cadillac, it would make sense to keep Antonelli around the team as a reserve driver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;re taking a look at who could replace Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes&#8217; reserve driver if he completes a rumoured shock return to the Formula One grid with Alpine. The 35-year-old Finn has been without a race seat since losing his place at Sauber last year. But Bottas has made it clear he wants a full-time [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":369,"featured_media":54413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[892],"tags":[1268,1148,743,1583],"class_list":["post-54411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-formula-1","tag-alpine","tag-formula-one","tag-mercedes","tag-valtteri-bottas"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Valtteri Bottas Alpine Move: Who Could Replace Mercedes Reserve Driver?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We&#039;re looking at who could replace Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes&#039; reserve driver if he completes a return to the Formula One grid with Alpine.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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