Alpine driver Pierre Gasly addressed ongoing rumours about Valtteri Bottas potentially securing a full-time position with the team, calling the discussions “just noise” as the British Grand Prix weekend progressed. The speculation surfaced following Bottas’s departure from Sauber at the end of 2024 and his current role as Mercedes’ reserve driver.
Bottas discusses his situation and prospects with Alpine
Valtteri Bottas, who has been without a permanent race seat since losing his contract with Sauber, shared insights on the possibility of joining Alpine during an interview on F1‘s Beyond The Grid podcast in June. He acknowledged that his management team has been exploring opportunities, particularly given Alpine’s use of Mercedes power units. Bottas remarked that Alpine’s choice of power unit was logical and emphasized the value of his racing experience to a team that has been through driver changes this year.
He explained,
“I think probably there has been some discussions,”
—Valtteri Bottas, Formula 1 driver
Adding,
“But there’s lots of politics in this sport. I don’t have tens of millions to pay for a seat. Depends on the team but I do have some personal partners that could potentially join me, but still, not to an extent to some others. Let’s wait and see a few races and see how things go. You never know if something opens up.”
—Valtteri Bottas, Formula 1 driver
Gasly emphasizes focus amid tough midfield battle
Gasly tempered the speculation by highlighting Alpine’s performance challenges and the tight competition in the midfield this season. Despite Alpine’s position towards the back of the midfield pack, Gasly said he continues to demonstrate the car’s potential on race weekends.
He remarked,
“I think it’s a lot of noise. I think the car, I’m showing every weekend what we can do with it, doing a very good job on Saturdays and putting it in places that on paper we all agree we should not really be.”
—Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver
Reflecting on the situation, Gasly noted the difficulties the team faces and the need to remain focused, stating,
“It’s going to be a long season. We don’t have upgrades, the car is not in the best place, but all of us need to focus on what we’ve got to do and try and do it the best way that we can.”
—Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver
Context for Alpine’s season and what lies ahead
Alpine is currently navigating a challenging season with limited car upgrades and fierce competition in the midfield. As the team manages its resources and driver lineup, Gasly’s comments underscore the uncertainty and speculation that often surround Formula 1 teams, especially during tightly contested campaigns. His dismissal of rumours involving Bottas shows a desire to concentrate on on-track performance rather than off-track distractions as the season advances toward its crucial stages.