Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore has insisted that signing Valtteri Bottas was “never a discussion” for the team in Formula 1 despite talks between the parties.
Cadillac announced earlier this week that Bottas will return to the grid alongside Sergio Perez in 2026, when the American marque will debut as the series’ 11th team.
Bottas, who has 246 starts and 10 victories to his name, has remained ever-present in the paddock in 2025 in a Mercedes reserve role since losing his seat at Sauber.
There had been whispers that Bottas was a surprise name that Alpine was considering, and the Finn even disclosed last month that he had been speaking to Briatore.
But while he has established that talks were held – including with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff – Briatore has denied that discussions over a race drive were ever serious.
“I talked with a lot of people. I talked with Bottas as well,” Briatore told media including Motorsport Week.
“We talked with Toto 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! But this is the reason, honestly.
“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.”
Alpine admits to premature Colapinto promotion
Bottas’ emergence as a rumoured Alpine candidate came as Briatore voiced that the team couldn’t continue to have a vast imbalance in results between the two cars.
Jack Doohan went point-less across his short-lived six-round spell in the cockpit, while Franco Colapinto has also been unable to score since replacing the Australian.
Briatore has admitted that it was perhaps premature to place Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly, who has continued to excel despite Alpine’s tribulations with the A525.
“For this driver, it’s very difficult to cope with this car. These cars are very, very heavy, very quick,” he explained.
“And for a young driver to put in Formula 1, maybe it was not the timing to have Franco in Formula 1. Maybe he needs another year or two to be part of Formula 1.
“I know that, in the end, what is important is the result.
“He tries very hard. He tries very hard with the engineers to please them in everything, but it’s not what I expect from Colapinto.”
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