Valtteri Bottas remains determined to return to Formula 1, with Cadillac emerging as a key option amid ongoing 2026 preparations.
Valtteri Bottas isn’t done with Formula 1, and that’s something he’s been convinced of since the day he found himself on the sidelines.
While he revealed yesterday that discussions have been initiated with Alpine F1 and Red Bull Racing, the Finn also addressed the other most likely option for him: Cadillac F1.
But before opening up about the American team, the current Mercedes F1 reserve driver reflected on his mental journey.
“I don’t have a seat, but that’s not by my own choice,” Bottas said.
“I still feel – and this feeling came quite quickly after I found out I wouldn’t have a drive this year – that I’m not finished with F1.”
“I still have a lot to give. It’s still the most important thing in my life. That feeling, now that I’m looking from the outside, has grown stronger and stronger, and now I really miss racing.”
“I feel like the way the last two years went for me in my career is not at all how I’d want things to end. At the end of last year, in qualifying and races, I felt like I was at my best.”
“I haven’t yet felt any decline in myself. That’s why I want to continue. As human beings, we do decline, but I haven’t yet!”
The Finn reiterated his interest in Cadillac but admitted the American team won’t be rushing into a decision.
“I don’t think they’re in a big hurry. They’ve been very, very busy trying to get a car on the grid for next year.”
“I know my timeline, I know when I want to find out what’s going on next year and what plans I need to make, and I think August, more or less, is a good target for that. But I hope we’ll hear something soon.”
“I think there are a few drivers on the list. I imagine my experience will help me because I’ve raced with three different teams, one of which was very successful. At Williams too, we had good results, so I hope I’m in a strong position.”
“For me, it’s a very interesting project, something new for F1, an American team that may have a different vision of the sport. If I were there as a driver, it would be really very interesting because you’re starting from scratch.”
“The team is starting from zero. You could actually have a big influence on some things, on the direction to take, and that would be very motivating and rewarding when success comes.”
“I think a rule change is always a good time to jump in because you never know — if you suddenly manage to get things right, you can actually get very good results from the beginning.”
