Bottas says Cadillac move felt right despite Alpine link

Valtteri Bottas has revealed that his comeback to the Formula 1 grid with Cadillac was in motion well before this week’s official unveiling in New York.

The 35-year-old Finn, who wrapped up a difficult stint at Sauber in 2024 and has since been Mercedes’ reserve, has suddenly become one of the talking points of the driver market. Even Alpine explored signing him. “It’s been a wild week,” Bottas admitted at Zandvoort to Viaplay.

Suggestions that Cadillac talks were already far advanced were accurate, he confirmed. “The first talks were actually a couple of years ago,” Bottas said. “We have been in touch ever since. At the beginning of the year, we started talking seriously. At that point it became clear that I wanted to be in this project. When the team was ready to sign the first driver, I was ready immediately and a deal was made.”

Alpine, which also looked at Sergio Perez before he too joined Cadillac, never tempted Bottas away. “There was another option, Alpine,” he admitted. “However, at the beginning of the year, I already had the feeling that this would be a better option for me in the long run. The team wanted two experienced drivers who can work together and not just race against each other.”

Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore even claims Enstone helped Bottas drive up his price. “I think Alpine helped Bottas a little bit to sign the contract with Cadillac,” he smiled at Zandvoort. “We did some marketing.”

Still, Briatore praised the Finn: “He was unlucky to be in Mercedes at the same time as Lewis, when Lewis was really at the peak of his driving. It’s nice to have a driver back with a lot of experience, but I’m looking for something else.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also admitted Bottas will be missed at his shoulder at grands prix. “Toto was really happy,” Bottas revealed. “He said it was a shame I was leaving. They were obviously happy with my work, but they know I want to race.”

The Finn, however, knows Cadillac faces a steep climb. “We’re talking about a completely new project,” he warned. “Everything is starting from a clean slate, which is interesting, but there’s also a lot of work to be done.

“We’re trying to get a relatively good start to the year, to at least get the car to the finish line in a race. It will definitely take a couple of years before we get any decent results.”