Valtteri Bottas could be on the verge of a sensational mid-season Formula 1 return, with Alpine eyeing the experienced Finn as a solution to their nightmare 2025 campaign. With the team rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ standings and rookie Franco Colapinto under mounting pressure, Bottas has emerged as a serious candidate to rescue the French outfit.
After a frustrating start to the year, Alpine have made it clear they are not afraid to shake up their driver line-up. Jack Doohan was given just six races to prove himself before being replaced by Colapinto, who was brought in on an initial five-race deal. But the Argentine has struggled to make an impact, and sources within the paddock suggest Alpine are now assessing his performance on a race-by-race basis.
Behind the scenes, executive advisor Flavio Briatore has, according to The Race, approached Mercedes about Bottas’ availability should Alpine decide to make another driver switch before the season’s end.
The Finn, who has not raced since leaving Sauber at the end of 2024, is currently serving as Mercedes’ reserve and test driver and mentoring young star Kimi Antonelli. While Bottas has kept a low profile, he has made no secret of his desire to return to full-time racing and has been heavily linked with the new Cadillac team set to join the grid in 2026.
For now, however, the most immediate route back onto the F1 grid may run through Enstone. Alpine’s disastrous form, which sees them 15 points adrift at the foot of the table, has prompted Briatore and team leadership to look for a proven hand to steady the ship. And Bottas, with 10 grand prix wins and over a decade of experience, fits the bill.
Colapinto, meanwhile, did himself no favours with a scrappy 2025 Austrian Grand Prix. The rookie finished well outside the points after a collision with Yuki Tsunoda, and received a five-second penalty for forcing Oscar Piastri off track while being lapped. His contract runs through this weekend’s British Grand Prix, but insiders suggest the axe could fall if results do not improve.
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Pressure mounts as Alpine consider their next move
Alpine’s executive advisor Briatore pulled no punches after qualifying in Austria, stating: “Clearly the car was good enough for Q3, but we are still lacking having two cars up where they should be. 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.”
The team’s chronic lack of points is compounded by ongoing power unit struggles, with 2025 seen as a holding year ahead of a switch to Mercedes engines. Still, expectations remain high for results, and patience is wearing thin.
Should Colapinto fail to impress at Silverstone, it may open the door for Valtteri Bottas to make a shock return to racing for the second half of the season. Not only would this give Alpine an immediate boost of experience, but it would also help stabilize the team before the arrival of the much-anticipated Mercedes partnership in 2026.
Bottas has also been widely reported as Cadillac’s first choice for their F1 debut in 2026, but with that move still a year away, a stint at Alpine could be the perfect audition for the Finn to remind the paddock of his abilities. As for Alpine, they are rapidly running out of time to save a season that is spiraling into disaster.
The next few races may prove pivotal for both Bottas and the French squad. For now, the spotlight is on Silverstone and Colapinto’s last chance to convince Alpine’s bosses that he deserves to keep his seat.
