This week, Valtteri Bottas had his first Cadillac seat fitting. The Finn was still under contract with Mercedes this year, which limited his ability to work for his new team. He only tested sporadically in the simulator, but now he can finally get to work as a Cadillac driver. Bottas is proud that he can now ‘finally’ support the American racing team in the run-up to their debut.
Cadillac signed Formula 1 veterans Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas in the summer. Both have a large fan base and bring a wealth of experience with them, with six and ten race wins respectively. Pérez watched Formula 1 from the sidelines this year, which allowed him to do extensive testing for his new employer. For example, he drove a matte black Ferrari on the Imola circuit on behalf of Cadillac. Now that Bottas’ contract with Mercedes has expired, he too can fully focus on his new team. This week, he had his seat fitting.
‘A lot of work ahead’
“I’m excited to finally start as a driver for Cadillac,” Bottas responded in an official press release. “I’m incredibly proud of this moment, as it marks the beginning of a new chapter on the grid, with a team that is just starting its journey in this sport. We have a lot of work ahead of us, so I’m eager to use my experience to help the team get started, especially now that I’m fully involved.”
“It’s special to see everything come together for the first time as a brand new team,” Bottas continued. “You only then truly realize how big the momentum behind this project is. It’s crucial to get the preparation right, as these are the steps that prepare us for the first tests. I can’t wait to start the season and get back to racing.” Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon was also delighted that Bottas is now officially on board. “I’m proud of all the work everyone in the team is doing,” he said. “Formula 1 is the ultimate team sport, and at times like these, you clearly see the skills, talents, and expertise we already have in-house.”
