Valtteri Bottas has revealed Red Bull turned down his advances when he made a previous approach to the team to sound out whether a move in Formula 1 was viable.
Red Bull appears to have lost patience with Sergio Perez’s recurring struggles as reports have heightened this week that the team has chosen to replace him for 2025.
However, Bottas, who will lose his current drive at Sauber, is not thought to be in the running despite Red Bull expressing a willingness to recruit outside its own ranks.
Instead, Red Bull is expected to decide between the two drivers at sister team RB, with Liam Lawson regarded as the leading candidate over team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-120x86.webp)
Bottas divulged that it wasn’t a surprise he wasn’t a more serious contender, though, citing his suspicion that certain individuals in the organisation aren’t keen on him.
“I feel like there are some people at Red Bull who don’t really like me for some reason,” Bottas told media including Motorsport Week in Las Vegas.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s an option. That’s my feeling.”
Expanding more on the matter, Bottas admitted during last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix that he’d even got in touch with Red Bull at some stage to inquire about a seat.
Put to him that he should give thought to getting in contact with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, Bottas responded: “I don’t know.
“I feel like they have lots of drivers on their programme, and they prefer them.
“Some time ago, we asked, and it was a pretty clear no, for some reason.
“I don’t know if it’s something to do with the past. I don’t know. But, anyway.”
Bottas believes he would’ve suited Red Bull role
With 10 F1 starts to his name, it is unclear whether Lawson will be the answer to Red Bull’s prolonged second driver conundrum since Daniel Ricciardo exited in 2018.
Bottas, meanwhile, has insisted he could have been the ideal solution to partner Max Verstappen based on the previous experience he has within a title-winning team.
The Finn provided strong support to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes remained unbeaten during his spell with the marque between 2017 and 2021.
“You know, I could see myself filling that role,” Bottas, a 10-time F1 race winner, told F1 TV about the Red Bull drive that Perez is set to vacate.
“I’m really confident I would do a good job but for now the answer has been no.
“I think there’s certain people or a certain person within the organisation that is against me for some reason, but that’s their loss.”
READ MORE – Valtteri Bottas confirms talks with General Motors over 2026 F1 drive
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-350x250.webp)
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-360x180.webp)
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