F1 driver might lose his spot after the Monaco GP as the team plans an unexpected replacement.
A Formula One driver could lose his spot after just five races if a rising star steps in to take his place on the grid.
The 2026 F1 season has faced some challenges because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which caused the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix to be canceled.
Still, with five races completed, teams have had enough time to see how their drivers are performing and adapting to the new 2026 rules.
Right now, Mercedes’ young driver Kimi Antonelli is leading the Drivers’ Championship with 131 points, thanks to four wins and five podium finishes.
At the other end, Nico Hulkenberg, along with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, and Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, haven’t scored any points yet.
It looks like one of the drivers at the bottom could lose their spot before the Monaco Grand Prix next weekend.
According to Sky Sports Italia, Bottas’ results this season have raised questions about his future at Cadillac. He’s just behind his teammate in their head-to-head battle, with a close three-to-two record.
While some commentators said Bottas’ place in F1 might be at risk for 2027, Cadillac hasn’t said they are unhappy or planning to replace him this year.
However, the report says the team has already picked someone to possibly take his seat.
If Bottas were to lose his spot, many expect Cadillac to bring in their test driver and Formula 2 star Colton Herta. The 26-year-old American’s reputation in motorsport is growing fast.
In his last race in Montreal, Herta finished ninth in the sprint and seventh in the main race, placing him 12th overall in the 22-driver standings.
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Still, it would be a big surprise to see such a young driver, with no F1 race experience yet, join the team, since Cadillac wants to stick with experienced drivers like Perez and Bottas.
Before the 2026 season began, Cadillac’s team boss Graeme Lowdon said, “We’re already seeing benefits. Both drivers give really helpful feedback to the mechanics.”