“The list of things to get used to is long”: Bottas and the Cadillac challenge
Valtteri Bottas is about to turn another page in his long Formula 1 career. Thirteen years after his debut in the sport, the Finnish driver finds himself once again at the starting line: a new team, new people, new regulations, and a car that no one has truly mastered yet. But this time, the leap is even bolder. Cadillac, the American giant making its Formula 1 debut, has chosen him to lead a project that promises to shake up the 2026 season. And Valtteri Bottas, far from intimidated, looks hungrier than ever.
A new chapter with Cadillac
Valtteri Bottas does not hide his excitement for a complete fresh start. Speaking with Jolyon Palmer and Juan Pablo Montoya on Formula1.com, he described the moment he is experiencing:
“I’m excited because it’s a big change: new regulations, a new power unit, and a completely new team. I’ve never worked with most of the team members, so I have a lot to get used to.”
The Finnish driver is aware that time, patience, and teamwork will be essential:
“You need to be understanding about certain things and make sure decisions are made as a team. That’s also why Cadillac hired two experienced drivers: they need the feedback that Checo and I have gained from previous teams, especially in winning environments. The list of things to get used to is long.”
The integration process is already underway:
“I know my race engineer, the performance engineer, I’ve met them and we communicate regularly. Building these relationships is essential, but there are so many new faces and new systems to understand in order to get the most out of the base team. It’s demanding work, but extremely rewarding.”
2026: new regulations, zero certainties
The new technical package represents, according to Valtteri Bottas, the most radical change of his career:
“I think this will be the biggest change, at least from what we’re seeing in the simulator. You know you’ll have less downforce, smaller tires, more sliding, but also much more torque on corner exit. Additionally, power unit management is something every driver and every team will have to learn from scratch.”
Uncertainty, for now, is total:
“We really can’t know anything: it’s all speculation and rough numbers. Differences between power units could be larger than in the past, and there are too many unknowns. Pre-season testing will give some indications, but often the final car isn’t the one you start the first race with. Many variables, many hypotheses, no certainties.”
Among the most debated changes is the removal of DRS, but the former Mercedes and Sauber driver does not appear worried:
“From a power unit perspective, there will still be boost, recharge, and new overtaking modes. There will still be a lot for the driver to manage. Honestly, for a new team, being a customer for the power unit is the right choice: it allows focus on the chassis and systems, avoiding complexity that would otherwise be excessive.”
The 2026 season will be uncharted territory for everyone, but for Valtteri Bottas it represents much more than a technical change. It is an opportunity to reinvent himself, to leverage his accumulated experience, and to help build an ambitious project from the ground up. In a year where nobody really knows what to expect, the Finnish driver seems ready to turn uncertainty into an asset. Cadillac has chosen experience; now it’s up to Valtteri Bottas to prove he can still surprise.
The 2026 season represents a true “Year Zero” for Valtteri Bottas, as he balances the technical demands of a new regulatory era with the logistical challenge of launching an entirely new team. By moving to Cadillac, the veteran Finn is betting on his ability to shape a project from its foundations, proving that his extensive Formula 1 experience is the most valuable asset a newcomer can possess.
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