Valtteri Bottas Addresses Cadillac F1 Seat Speculations
Valtteri Bottas, the current reserve driver for Mercedes, has humorously responded to rumors linking him to a potential Formula 1 seat with Cadillac, set to debut with new regulations in 2026. In a light-hearted Instagram video, Bottas inspected the interior of a Cadillac SUV, joking about the "two free seats" available. “Oh wow, that’s actually a nice seat,” he quipped before confirming, “And they’re both free?”
Despite stepping back from a full-time role after not securing a contract extension with Sauber for 2025, Bottas underscored his desire to remain competitive in F1. “I’m not done yet with F1. I still feel… that I have more to give,” he stated on the Beyond The Grid podcast. Bottas emphasized that while he currently does not hold a race seat, his passion for the sport remains strong.
On the Cadillac opportunity, Bottas expressed intrigue regarding the new American team’s approach to F1. “It’s a very interesting project… something new to F1,” he noted, suggesting that his extensive experience could serve him well in a newly formed team. He anticipates decisions regarding driver’s lineups could solidify by August, noting, “I know my timeline… so hopefully we’ll hear something more soon.”
Bottas’ potential involvement with Cadillac marks a significant shift as the sport prepares for its 2026 regulations, which promise a fresh competitive landscape. The former Mercedes driver aims to leverage his past experiences with multiple teams to influence the new team’s direction and success from the ground up.
