Claire Williams ‘cannot believe’ that 10-win driver isn’t on the F1 grid, ‘it doesn’t compute in my brain’

The 2025 Formula 1 driver market has already seen movement after just six races. There is set to be even more as the 2026 season looms.

The F1 driver market saw action at the Japanese Grand Prix as Liam Lawson was dropped by Red Bull. The New Zealander was demoted back to Racing Bulls after he desperately struggled to handle the RB21.

Yuki Tsunoda has replaced him at Red Bull and has shown signs of improvement on Lawson, but he is still miles off of challenging teammate Max Verstappen.

Lawson and Tsunoda are out of contract in 2025, giving them 18 more races to fight for their seats for next season. Jack Doohan will not be afforded that chance as Alpine have brought in Franco Colapinto for the next five races after the Miami Grand Prix.

Colapinto must perform ‘OK’ to retain his seat for the remainder of the season, which will also surely put him in good stead to race for Alpine in 2026. Several other drivers are fighting to get onto the grid next season.

Competition is rife on the sidelines, with rookies and experienced drivers who lost their seats all battling it out for an opportunity. Former Williams boss Claire Williams is absolutely baffled that one driver finds himself out of F1.

Claire Williams ‘cannot believe’ that Valtteri Bottas is not on the F1 grid

Valtteri Bottas is off the F1 grid for the first time since 2013 in 2025 after losing his seat with Sauber last year. The Finn went out on a whimper with the Hinwil-based outfit as he failed to score a point in 2024, languishing at the back in underwhelming machinery.

The 35-year-old is still in F1 in some capacity, signing on as Mercedes’ reserve driver. Bottas grabbed his 10 F1 wins with the Silver Arrows between 2017 and 2021 as Lewis Hamilton’s number two.

Bottas is having a crucial impact on Kimi Antonelli behind the scenes, playing a key role in the 18-year-old’s progression in his rookie season. This will help put him on the market for a spot on the grid in 2026, which Williams struggles to comprehend.

The pair worked together in Grove from 2013 until he joined Mercedes. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Williams ‘cannot believe’ that Bottas does not have a seat.

Asked whether the Finn should be back on the grid in 2026, she replied: “100%. I cannot believe that Valtteri Bottas is sat on the sidelines, it doesn’t compute in my brain.

“I think Valtteri, I’ve got a lot of time for him. I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Valtteri, I think he is a great driver and he is a great personality in the sport as well.

“Yeah, I’d love to see him in a race seat, I don’t get it really.”

READ MORE: Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

Where does Valtteri Bottas currently stand with getting an F1 seat in 2026?

The 35-year-old does not consider his F1 career over as he plots a return in 2026. Mercedes will not stand in Bottas’ way of securing a seat next season – it is highly unlikely he will race with the Silver Arrows, with Russell and Antonelli performing so strong.

Bottas has been heavily linked with Cadillac for next year. The American brand will become F1’s 11th team on the grid in 2026 and are currently weighing up their options for their first two drivers in the sport.

Cadillac want an experienced driver to join their ranks, with the Finn fitting that bill in abundance. Cadillac discussed their 2026 driver line-up at the Miami Grand Prix, with Bottas being among those candidates.

However, the 35-year-old faces fierce competition to join the team. Sergio Perez and Zhou Guanyu are ‘best positioned’ to join the team in 2026, both offering experience and huge commercial value from their respective regions.