Valtteri Bottas eyes Cadillac opportunity: “I’ve raced for Mercedes, I know how to steer car development”. With Cadillac set to debut in Formula 1 in 2026, Valtteri Bottas puts himself forward as a candidate.

With just months to go before its F1 debut, Cadillac has yet to announce its drivers for 2026. Valtteri Bottas is now making his case. The Finnish driver, currently without a seat after parting ways with Sauber, is eager to return to the grid. His goal is to have clarity by the summer, possibly by August, so he can fully focus on his next chapter in Formula 1.

A new team on the grid means two fresh seats up for grabs—a golden opportunity for both young rookies and experienced drivers currently without a drive. Several names have already been linked to Cadillac, which recently secured a major sponsorship deal: Sergio Perez appears to be the most likely candidate, Zhou Guanyu has Ferrari’s backing, and Mick Schumacher is also in the mix for a potential second chance.

But if the team led by Graeme Lowdon opts for experience, Valtteri Bottas could be a name not to overlook. With ten career wins, sixty-seven podiums, and twenty pole positions, Valtteri Bottas brings extensive experience. Known as a dedicated team player with a strong work ethic and willingness to sacrifice for the team, he could prove instrumental in the development of an all-new race car.

Valtteri Bottas: “I could be an option for Cadillac”
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Valtteri Bottas outlined his future ambitions and the possibility of a deal with Cadillac: “I know my timeline—when I want clarity about next year and what I need to do. My target would be August, but I hope to hear something even earlier.”

“I believe Cadillac already has some names on its list. I imagine my experience could help them: I’ve raced with three different teams and had great success with one of them. So I hope I’m in a good position, also because I think it’s a very interesting project.”

“It’s something new—it’s an American team, maybe they’ll bring a different philosophy to Formula 1. It would be interesting to be there as a driver because I could start from scratch and have a major impact on key aspects, like setting the direction for development. That would give me motivation and be very rewarding for me.”