F1 Oversteer understands that Mercedes are now pushing for Valtteri Bottas to replace Franco Colapinto at Alpine.

At the halfway stage of the season, Alpine currently sit bottom of the constructors’ championship.

It’s been a tale of two garages at Alpine in 2025, with Pierre Gasly claiming a brilliant sixth place finish at the British Grand Prix.

The Frenchman exceeded everyone’s expectations at Silverstone by reaching Q3 and drove a fantastic race to add eight more points to his tally.

There have been suggestions that Gasly is keen to leave Alpine at the end of the season due to the team’s underperformance, but his teammate Franco Colapinto may not have the luxury of choice.

It was another dreadful weekend for the young Argentine driver and after six races, he’s matched Jack Doohan’s record of failing to score a point in that timeframe.

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto at the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

Mercedes pushing for Valtteri Bottas to replace Franco Colapinto at Alpine

F1 Oversteer understands that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is open to Valtteri Bottas leaving the team to step into Alpine’s second seat.

Bottas has already responded to rumours about a move to Alpine, and Colapinto’s did-not-start at the British Grand Prix hasn’t done the 22-year-old any favours.

Colapinto was quicker than Gasly in the final practice session at Silverstone heading into qualifying.

He looked like he would on the cusp of reaching Q2, before a mistake coming out of the final corner saw him spin out and have to retire the car.

Flavio Briatore was left with his head in his hands after Colapinto’s spin, and the 22-year-old’s Sunday didn’t get any better after starting from the pit lane.

By the time the graphic on the television broadcast had caught up with the chaos of the opening lap, Colapinto’s name was already shaded out.

A technical issue in the pit lane saw him stall and get stuck in second gear, suffering from a similar problem that cost him dearly during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas at the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Valtteri Bottas linked to 2026 Cadillac F1 seat amid Alpine interest

When Bottas lost his seat at Sauber at the end of last season, taking up the role of reserve driver at Mercedes looked like his best option if he wanted to stay in Formula 1.

Bottas has been guiding Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is going through a difficult spell at the Silver Arrows, having only finished in the top 10 once in his last six races.

It doesn’t appear as though Bottas is a contender for a Mercedes race seat, with their focus on Max Verstappen if either Antonelli or George Russell are not retained for 2026.

However, there is another potential seat that the 10-time race winner is in the frame for.

Cadillac are interested in signing Bottas as part of their first Formula 1 driver line-up.

The allure of an immediate return to Formula 1 with Alpine might be better for the 35-year-old than waiting to see if he’s going to be selected by F1’s 11th team.

Although Alpine are at the bottom of the championship right now, the promise of Mercedes power units in 2026 should mean they’re a far more competitive outfit than Cadillac heading into next season.