Valtteri Bottas Opens Up About His Formula 1 Future and Potential 2026 Return

Valtteri Bottas is not done with Formula 1. Not by a long shot. After losing his full-time seat with Kick Sauber at the end of 2024, the Finnish veteran has spent 2025 on the sidelines, serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver. Behind the scenes, he’s been anything but idle. Bottas has had conversations with Red Bull and Alpine, kept tabs on the Cadillac F1 project, and even left the door open for a potential IndyCar move. It is clear. He still wants back in.

Red Bull Talks: Valtteri Bottas Admits Internal Politics Closed the Door

At 35, with over 200 Grand Prix under his belt, Bottas isn’t trying to fade quietly into retirement. If anything, the setbacks have only sharpened his resolve. Still, he’s honest about the hurdles. He knows it is not just about talent anymore. Timing, politics, and money are often the deciding factors. “I want to race in Formula 1 again,” he’s said more than once. But wanting it and actually landing a seat in today’s F1 are two very different things.

Red Bull: A Pitch That Went Nowhere

Bottas threw his hat in the ring for the second Red Bull seat. Yes, that seat next to Max Verstappen. With Yuki Tsunoda struggling in 2025, Bottas believed his experience and calm under pressure could be exactly what Red Bull needed. And honestly, on paper, he had a point.

But the talks fizzled out. Bottas hinted that someone in Red Bull’s management team, he didn’t name names, hasn’t exactly been in his corner for years. This pretty much shut that door before it even opened. “I really think the RB21 would’ve suited a more experienced hand,” Bottas said candidly. “But Red Bull promotes from within. That’s their thing. I get it.”

It is a frustrating situation. Despite Tsunoda’s spotty form and Bottas’ proven credentials, Red Bull’s loyalty to its junior program trumped everything else.

Alpine: Some Spark, But No Fire

Alpine was another option and one that seemed promising for a brief moment in 2024. Bottas had early talks with the team, but they ultimately chose to roll the dice with Jack Doohan. That gamble didn’t pay off. Doohan struggled and was eventually swapped out mid-season for Franco Colapinto.

The mess didn’t help Bottas’ case. Alpine’s instability, along with its tendency to lean towards drivers who bring funding, made the whole situation feel… shaky. “I’ve never been the guy with a big sponsor backing me,” Bottas admitted. Maybe that’s a weakness in the modern F1 world.

He has a point. These days, even a 10-time race winner needs more than speed to land a seat; cash, timing, and the right politics all matter.

Mercedes Reserve: A Foot In the Door, But No Guarantees

For now, Bottas is hanging around the paddock as Mercedes’ reserve driver. It keeps him in the loop, close to the tech, and in the conversation. But he’s also realistic. Leaving Sauber right after the Brazilian Grand Prix in late 2024 didn’t help his cause. By then, most 2025 seats were already spoken for. That misstep left him on the outside looking in. The reserve gig was better than nothing, but far from where he wanted to be.

Eyes On 2026: Cadillac, IndyCar, Or Bust?

Looking ahead to 2026, Bottas is keeping his options open. Cadillac F1, a bold American entry backed by General Motors and Andretti, is one of the more intriguing prospects. With a fresh team and no baggage, it could be a perfect reset.

Then there’s IndyCar. Not Plan A, maybe not even Plan B, but a real possibility. Guys like Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson have found new life in the U.S., and Bottas has been watching. I just want to race, he said. F1, IndyCar, whatever. I’m not ready to walk away.

The Road Ahead: Still Unfinished

So, where does that leave Bottas?

• Red Bull: He made his pitch, but politics and internal preferences shut him out.
• Alpine: Talks started, but financial priorities and team chaos killed the momentum.
• Current role: Serving as Mercedes’ reserve in 2025, keeping the dream alive from the sidelines.
• 2026 outlook: Cadillac F1 and IndyCar are both on the radar.

Bottas’ future may be up in the air, but his passion is still grounded in racing. He’s not naïve; he knows the window isn’t wide open anymore. But he’s not closing it either. If there’s a way back in, he’ll find it. And if he does, don’t be surprised, he’s always been the quiet type who doesn’t quit.