Valtteri Bottas is preparing for a very different role in Formula 1 in 2025 after losing his seat at Sauber.
Mercedes were quick to snap up Valtteri Bottas towards the end of last season when they discovered that the Finn had lost his seat to rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
Formula 1 is going through a rookie revolution this winter, with six drivers preparing for their first full campaigns in the sport.
The expectations each of them have been presented with will be very different, with Liam Lawson and Andrea Kimi Antonelli potentially in race-winning cars, while Bortoleto and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar simply hoping to avoid being at the back of the grid.
Although Hadjar’s appointment officially settled the grid for the beginning of 2025, the driver’s market is always an active topic in F1.
This time it’s thanks to the actions of Flavio Briatore at Alpine who has brought in a host of new reserve drivers ahead of next season.
Ryo Harikawa, Paul Aron and most importantly Franco Colapinto have arrived on the scene to put pressure on their incumbent drivers.
Pierre Gasly is Alpine’s established star, but after just a single Grand Prix, his new teammate Jack Doohan appears to be under pressure.
Bottas was asked by Kym Illman on his YouTube channel about the young Australian’s prospects and has a positive outlook on his future.
Valtteri Bottas backs Jack Doohan at Alpine amid Franco Colapinto pressure
Doohan’s Alpine contract may only run for a handful of races, meaning he could be replaced by Colapinto before the F1 calendar reaches the European leg.
After spending last season supporting the F1 team and rejecting the opportunity to race in another series, it would be a bitter blow for Doohan to lose out on his chance after such a short amount of time.
Doohan’s debut in Abu Dhabi was described as ‘difficult’ which is hardly a surprise given the lack of preparation time he had in comparison to the rest of the field.
READ MORE: Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin
Bottas was asked about Doohan and Colapinto battling for the 2025 Alpine seat and whether he could tell the difference in their abilities having raced against both last season.
The Finn said: “It’s too early to say, I think time will show in the end.
“Jack is a promising, smart kid, he seems fast and yeah, he’s got his chance to prove himself which I believe he will do.”
Jack Doohan’s destiny is in his own hands at Alpine heading to the Australian Grand Prix
Doohan may be glad that the first race of the season is the Australian Grand Prix where he’ll have plenty of home support alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Ultimately, F1 is an extremely high-pressure environment and every young driver will know that there are plenty of racers waiting in the wings to swoop in and take their seat if they don’t reach the required level of performance.
Bottas’ move to Mercedes may in part be as a safety net for team principal Toto Wolff in case Antonelli can’t handle racing alongside George Russell after his rapid ascent through the junior ranks.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad
Doohan beat Mick Schumacher in a private test last year to earn his spot alongside Gasly, highlighting the inherent pace he has.
That will give him confidence and it would be a surprise if Alpine don’t organise at least one day of testing before pre-season begins in Bahrain to get him further acclimated to the car.
Alpine have made promises to Colapinto though and it may end up being a case of when not if the swap is made by Briatore and the team’s other senior staff.
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