In a shocking turn of events, the world of Formula 1 is buzzing with rumors of a major driver shake-up at Alpine. The Argentine driver, Franco Colapinto, is reportedly on thin ice, sparking speculations of a potential replacement even before 2026. The former F1 mogul, Flavio Briatore, is said to have his sights set on none other than Valtteri Bottas from Mercedes to fill the void.
Colapinto’s stint at Alpine, which was meant to be a trial period of five races, seems to be hanging by a thread as he struggles to make an impact on the track. With four races down and no points to show for, the young Argentine’s future with the team looks uncertain, as per reports from The Race. Briatore’s public criticism of Colapinto’s performance further fuels the rumors of an imminent departure.
Valtteri Bottas, a seasoned veteran with 12 seasons under his belt, is being touted as the safe and experienced choice to potentially replace Colapinto. The Finnish driver, currently serving as the third driver for Mercedes, could bring a wealth of expertise to Alpine, given the strong ties between the two teams. Talks of a possible move to Alpine are said to be in the early stages, with Mercedes reportedly open to the idea.
Alpine, languishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings with just 11 points from 11 races, is desperate for a turnaround in their fortunes. The potential arrival of Bottas could inject much-needed vigor into the struggling team, providing a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to help propel them up the grid.
As the F1 rumor mill goes into overdrive, all eyes are on Alpine to see if they will indeed pull the trigger on this blockbuster driver swap that could reshape the team’s fortunes for the remainder of the season and beyond.
