The Finn has not convinced the higher echelons of General Motors in the first five races. Colton Herta, current reserve driver and Indycar prospect, sounds like his natural replacement, although his results in F2 are not stellar (12th with 16 points).
Cadillac entered Formula 1 with its feet on the ground, the American team knew that its debut season would be complicated and that results would not come immediately, but within General Motors there is a sector that is extremely dissatisfied with Valtteri Bottas's performance.
The Finn, along with Sergio Pérez, was chosen to compensate for the team's inexperience with the veteran presence of two drivers who have dozens of wins and podiums in the category, but while the Mexican has shown flashes of good performance and commands an important market in North America, the former Mercedes driver has contributed little in these first five races.
Several specialized European media report that after the Canadian Grand Prix, Cadillac but especially the higher echelons of General Motors are seriously evaluating the possibility that the Monaco Grand Prix will be Bottas's last in the team if he continues to contribute nothing relevant to the team's progress.
The 36 year old Finn, who has zero points along with his teammate, has not managed to stand out in any of the races held so far and his continuity is beginning to be openly questioned.
The natural option to replace Bottas would be Colton Herta, the American driver that Cadillac brought from Indycar to Formula 2 with an eye on the future, Herta has a very attractive commercial profile for the brand due to his nationality and his ability to mobilize the local public, although his results in the junior category are far from stellar, he is in 12th place with 16 points and his best results have been two seventh places in Melbourne and Montreal. However, he has at least managed to complete all three races of the season.
If Cadillac decided to make the move, the Monaco GP would be the farewell race for Bottas and the starting point for Herta, who would take over the driver's seat of car number 77. The young driver, who can hardly contribute to the car's development, would at least begin to move the market with an American on the grid, something that General Motors executives look upon very favorably.
Another alternative that appears on the horizon is Nico Varrone, the Argentine who has been racing for General Motors in endurance races for years and is now trying his luck in Formula 2, where he achieved a sixth place in Canada. However, Varrone is behind Herta in the world championship and although he has had better performances in races, he is far behind in the team's consideration because what the North American can contribute from a commercial point of view is decisive.
Before making any decision, Cadillac will give Bottas at least one more chance in Monaco.
