Bottas Joins Cadillac F1 Team for 2026, Teams Up with Perez
Valtteri Bottas is making his way back to Formula 1. The Finnish driver has signed with Cadillac for their 2026 entry, ending speculation about his future in the sport.
The official announcement came Tuesday afternoon, confirming what GPblog had reported weeks earlier.
Bottas, currently serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver, will join fellow veteran Sergio “Checo” Perez at the American outfit.
The 35-year-old Finn wasn’t short on options. Alpine had also shown interest in both Bottas and Perez, though those talks apparently came from the drivers themselves rather than the team.
With Tuesday’s announcement, Alpine now knows they’ll need to look elsewhere for their 2026 lineup.
So why Cadillac? For Bottas, it’s been a long time coming.
“The first talks we had with Graeme about this opportunity were about two years ago,” Bottas explained, referring to Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon. “He’s always kept in touch on how things are progressing.”
The decision became clear for Bottas earlier this year.
“It was clear to me that this is what I want. I want to be part of this great brand, this startup Formula One team, but with great structure and big goals.”
Bottas doesn’t mince words about his commitment to the project.
“I’m here to give everything I have to the team,” he declared. “With Checo, we can definitely guide in the right direction.”
But the ten-time race winner is under no illusions about the challenges ahead. Starting a new F1 team is incredibly difficult, even for an established brand like Cadillac.
“We’re realistic. It’s going to be a mountain of work to do, and it’s going to be probably a difficult start because it is Formula 1.”
That doesn’t mean they’re setting their sights low.
“We’re not there to stay at the back. We don’t want to finish last.”
In fact, Bottas believes the team has strong potential to move up the grid quickly.
“I believe with this structure, with this group, these people, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get relatively quickly up to the pace, and that way enjoy some success.”
The Finnish driver also mentioned his new teammate’s longevity, adding: “We still have quite a few years left in the tank with Checo, I think. So the goal is to enjoy the success together eventually when we get there.”
Bottas knows what he’s signed up for—a challenging but potentially rewarding journey.
“I know what to expect. Mentally, if you prepare for the worst, it’s better because then whatever you achieve, that’s going to be really positive and rewarding.”
For a driver who’s spent time with championship-winning teams like Mercedes, what drives him now is different.
“For me, just being involved, getting my hands dirty with the team… once that progress and success come, that’s the trigger for me.”
