Test and reserve driver Valtteri Bottas is set to secure a full-time seat with the new Cadillac team next year. The Finnish driver ended his partnership with Sauber last year and has since been observing from the sidelines at Mercedes. While future teammate Sergio Pérez is already performing simulator work for Cadillac, Bottas hopes to contribute more to his new employer soon. He believes that the Silberpfeile will not stand in his way.
The 36-year-old Valtteri Bottas returned to the Mercedes reserve bench this season after losing his Sauber seat at the end of 2024. However, he still yearned for a permanent spot in Formula 1. The new Cadillac team, which wants to rely on experienced professionals during its debut year in Formula 1, provided a solution. Both Bottas and Sergio Pérez were announced as future Cadillac drivers in August. The Mexican driver is free to start working with the Americans and has already completed his first simulator laps. Bottas is more limited in his options, as he will not make the switch from Mercedes to Cadillac until January.
In an interview with Crash.net, Bottas revealed that there have indeed been ‘conversations’ about what he can contribute to the American racing team until then. “I think Graeme (Lowdon, ed.) and Toto (Wolff, ed.) have also talked,” he stated. “Mercedes has been hugely supportive of this transfer, so I don’t think they will block me in any way. There have already been conversations between me and Cadillac about what I can contribute, and that’s all fine.”
‘The Cadillac Factory is Very Impressive’
“Everyone understands that there is a lot of work to be done and that feedback from the drivers is already needed for certain things,” the Finn explained. “Of course, I only start in January, but there are certain things that I can already do here and there.” Bottas has already paid a visit to the Cadillac factory in Silverstone and is investigating whether he can do simulator work before the end of the year. “Mercedes and Cadillac are discussing it,” he clarified. “But I’ve already been to the factory in Silverstone – I took a quick look around.”
When asked if he was impressed by what he has seen so far, Bottas replied: “Yes. I actually didn’t expect everything to be so advanced. But they have been at it for a while. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done, but what I have seen so far is very impressive and gives me more confidence for the future.” After a year on the bench, Bottas admitted that he is eager to race again. “Melbourne can’t come soon enough,” he beamed. “Even the first test is a huge moment – they have built everything from scratch. Those kinds of milestones will be very special to experience. Besides, I miss racing every weekend. So yes, I’m really looking forward to it.”
