Briatore reveals extent of talks with ‘super driver’ Bottas over potential Alpine seat

Flavio Briatore says there was “never really a discussion” around Valtteri Bottas racing for Alpine in the future, following confirmation of the Finn’s deal with new F1 team Cadillac.

Alpine are one of four outfits – alongside Red Bull, Mercedes and Racing Bulls – yet to confirm their full 2026 driver line-ups, with Pierre Gasly recently signing a contract extension but no word yet on who his team mate will be next year or beyond.

Given Franco Colapinto’s challenges since replacing Jack Doohan earlier in the season, two drivers who had been linked to Alpine were current Mercedes reserve Bottas, and Sergio Perez – both left without seats at the end of last year.

However, while he admitted to speaking with “a lot of people” over the summer, Alpine Executive Advisor Briatore has insisted that the multiple race winners were never seriously in the frame for a seat at his squad.

Asked if he saw Bottas and Perez as options, before the pair signed for Cadillac, Briatore replied: “No, really. I talked with a lot of people. I talked with Bottas. We talked with Toto [Wolff, Mercedes boss] as well at the time. But really, there was never a discussion for Bottas to drive for Alpine.

“I think Alpine helped Bottas a little bit to sign the contract with Cadillac. We did some marketing. I like Valtteri because he’s a super driver. He was unlucky to be in Mercedes at the same time as Lewis [Hamilton], when Lewis was really at the peak of his driving.

“We have a different idea, but it’s nice to have Valtteri back. It’s nice to have a driver back with a lot of experience, but I’m looking for something else.”

Briatore, speaking in the team bosses’ press conference at the Dutch Grand Prix, also shared his thoughts on Colapinto’s future – and what he needs to see from the Argentinian youngster if he is to secure his place beyond 2025.

“I think I see everything already,” said Briatore. “I don’t need to see anything anymore. It’s difficult. For this driver, it’s very difficult to cope with this car. These cars are very, very heavy, very quick.

“For a young driver to [be] put in F1, maybe it was not the timing to have Franco in F1. Maybe he needs another year or two to be part of F1. I know that, in the end, what is important is the result.

“Franco tries very hard. He tries very hard with the engineers to please them in everything, but it’s not what I expect from Colapinto.”

That said, Briatore went on to praise Colapinto for delivering “probably his strongest” race of the season at Zandvoort, after the F2 race winner narrowly missed out on a points finish.