Valtteri Bottas will spend the majority of this year working on an F1 comeback for 2026. The Finn believes returning to the grid is possible – but he remains open to racing in categories like IndyCar.
Bottas: IndyCar is second option behind F1
For several reasons, Bottas can be considered one of the most significant free agents in 2025.
The Mercedes reserve driver has 10 race victories and dozens of podiums to his name, giving him weight in the market.
Putting aside his accomplishments, Bottas will feel his strong performances went unnoticed last season.
In the opening races of the season, like Australia and China, Sauber were fast enough to fight for points. At both venues, the 35-year-old put himself in contention for the top 10 – before reliability failures and poor pit-stops proved costly.
Only in the final three rounds, when Sauber brought their Las Vegas update package, were the Swiss team again capable of fighting for points.
A combination of factors, including misfortune in Qatar after contact with Lawson, meant Bottas could not capitalise – ending the year on zero points.
However, he does not believe the final standings are reflective of his abilities.
Bottas has even argued that his performances at Sauber exceeded his level at Mercedes – only for poor machinery to mask this.
Looking ahead to 2026, Formula 1 is his priority. Should nothing materialise in F1, Bottas told racingnews365 that joining IndyCar is an attractive alternative
“At the moment I’m thinking, if Formula 1 for 2026 wouldn’t happen for some reason, then my focus probably would shift to IndyCar.
“So that’s also something that could be interesting to try at least, to do some testing.
“Whether it’s an IndyCar race or a test, that’s something that’s really interesting.
“[2026] is a long way away, but it will come quick. So my next move is a to to do with 2026, and [I am] definitely planning that now.”
Opportunities in the market
Last year saw tremendous change across the field, with the vast majority of teams signing at least one new driver.
Losing out in last season’s merry-go-round puts Bottas in a tricky position. There are still seats available for 2026, but the market dynamics are far more predictable than they were twelve months ago.
Cadillac are an obvious option for the Finn, but there are a few variables that could impact the US team’s 2026 line-up.
Colton Herta’s success or failure in securing enough Super License points to race in F1 could delay and otherwise impacts Cadillac’s decision-making. Depending on whether Bottas is at the top of Cadillac’s shortlist, this could complicate negotiations.
Considering how last year evolved for Bottas, he will be eager to pursue more clear-cut routes.
Under Flavio Briatore’s leadership, Alpine could easily pull the trigger and make a mid-season swap. Alongside the likes of Franco Colapinto, the 35-year-old will investigate whether a place at the French team is feasible.
Outside of Cadillac and Alpine, most teams have two drivers on multi-year contracts. There is always the chance of a surprise elsewhere on the grid, but it is too early to say if Bottas will be the one to capitalise.
As a result, exploring openings at IndyCar for 2026 is a logical step for the Finn.
