F1 Shake-Up: Bottas Linked to Cadillac’s 2026 Entry

Bottas in Talks with Cadillac F1: A Top Seat Up for Grabs

16/03/2025

Valtteri Bottas is reportedly in advanced talks with Cadillac F1 for 2026, fueling speculation over one of the grid’s hottest seats.

Valtteri Bottas has been spotted in conversation with a representative from Cadillac, the new Formula 1 team set to join the grid in 2026, during the Melbourne paddock.

Just a day earlier, the Finnish driver was also seen engaged in long discussions with Graeme Lowdon, the director of the future American team, as well as Pat Symonds, the technical consultant.

But this more “corporate” and seemingly advanced meeting with a Cadillac executive—who has chosen to remain anonymous—raises an important question: is this a good sign?

“I’m not going to tell you anything!” Bottas said with a grin.

“This seat will be highly sought after. Everyone will play their own cards, and I definitely have strong ones to play, thanks to my experience and my knowledge from being part of a top team like Mercedes.”

Bottas Responds to Criticism from Former Sponsor

During the Melbourne Grand Prix weekend, Bottas also had to face recent remarks from his long-time former sponsor, Antti Aarnio-Wihuri. The businessman had recently stated:
“I wonder about someone whose entire career depended on us and who, overnight, cut all contact. We even facilitated his move to Mercedes. He would never have made it there without us.”

Bottas, however, is puzzled as to why these statements have resurfaced now.

“It felt a bit strange reading that because I’ve always believed I was grateful. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the partners who supported me throughout my career.”

“I’ve been very busy, and I haven’t seen Antti in a few years. I guess I’ll have to grab a coffee with him next time.”

F1 Shake-Up: Bottas Linked to Cadillac’s 2026 Entry F1 Shake-Up: Bottas Linked to Cadillac’s 2026 Entry

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2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
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Shanghai International
23 Mar
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6 Apr
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Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
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Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
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United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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