Ralf Schumacher Suggests Ocon as Bottas' Replacement at Cadillac
Ralf Schumacher believes Valtteri Bottas' F1 career is nearing its end. He suggests Cadillac should consider Esteban Ocon as a replacement.
Ralf Schumacher is not one to mince words, and his latest remarks on Valtteri Bottasâ future in Formula 1 are no exception. The former F1 driver suggested that Bottas, currently racing for Cadillac, should perhaps focus on cycling rather than racing, advising him to 'enjoy his life' away from the track. Schumacher's comments came during an appearance on Sky Deutschlandâs Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
Bottas, who returned to the grid with Cadillac this season alongside Sergio Perez, has had a challenging year. Neither driver has claimed points in Cadillac's debut season, but Perez has outperformed Bottas in both qualifying and races. To add to the Finn's woes, he's faced four retirements in the past seven races, including a late crash in Azerbaijan.
Despite Bottas and Perez being confirmed for Cadillac's 2027 lineup, Schumacher believes the team should consider Esteban Ocon as a potential replacement for Bottas. Ocon, who won't be continuing with Haas next season, has been floated as an attractive option due to his previous working relationship with Cadillac's team principal, Marcin Budkowski, from their days at Alpine.
Schumacher wasnât alone in his assessment. Fellow pundit Peter Hardenacke echoed the sentiment, pointing out that Ocon's familiarity with Budkowski could make him a strategic addition to the team. Meanwhile, Bottas has been making headlines for his off-track activities, notably completing a 420km bike ride from Malaysia to Singapore before a Grand Prix.
As the debate over Bottas' future continues, the Finn remains a popular figure in the paddock, even if Schumacher feels his competitive F1 story might be wrapping up. Whether Cadillac will heed Schumacher's advice and bring Ocon on board remains to be seen, but the conversation highlights the ever-shifting dynamics within the F1 driver market.