Flavio Briatore says there was \u201cnever really a discussion\u201d around Valtteri Bottas racing for Alpine in the future, following confirmation of the Finn\u2019s deal with new F1 team Cadillac.<\/p>\n
Alpine are one of four outfits \u2013 alongside Red Bull, Mercedes and Racing Bulls \u2013 yet to confirm their full 2026 driver line-ups, with Pierre Gasly recently signing a contract extension<\/a> but no word yet on who his team mate will be next year or beyond.<\/p>\n Given Franco Colapinto\u2019s challenges since replacing Jack Doohan earlier in the season, two drivers who had been linked to Alpine were current Mercedes reserve Bottas, and Sergio Perez \u2013 both left without seats at the end of last year.<\/p>\n However, while he admitted to speaking with \u201ca lot of people\u201d over the summer, Alpine Executive Advisor Briatore has insisted that the multiple race winners were never seriously in the frame for a seat at his squad.<\/p>\n Asked if he saw Bottas and Perez as options, before the pair signed for Cadillac<\/a>, Briatore replied: \u201cNo, really. I talked with a lot of people. I talked with Bottas. We talked with Toto [Wolff, Mercedes boss] as well at the time. But really, there was never a discussion for Bottas to drive for Alpine.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Alpine helped Bottas a little bit to sign the contract with Cadillac. We did some marketing. I like Valtteri because he\u2019s a super driver. He was unlucky to be in Mercedes at the same time as Lewis [Hamilton], when Lewis was really at the peak of his driving.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a different idea, but it\u2019s nice to have Valtteri back. It\u2019s nice to have a driver back with a lot of experience, but I\u2019m looking for something else.\u201d<\/p>\n