Valtteri Bottas completes his first day at Cadillac and prepares intensively at Silverstone for his Formula 1 comeback in 2026
Valtteri Bottas has completed his first official day at work as a Cadillac driver at Silverstone. The Finn, who has been one of the most experienced drivers on the grid for years, will return to Formula 1 permanently in 2026 after a season as a Mercedes reserve driver. His involvement with Mercedes ended immediately after the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, after which he will now be integrated into the structures of the new US team.
Cadillac is in the midst of building its first Formula 1 project. Bottas is joining a team that is literally starting from scratch—an appeal that the 34-year-old has deliberately sought out. “I am really excited to finally start as a driver for the Cadillac Formula 1 team,” says Bottas.
“This is a proud moment in my career, as it marks the beginning of a new chapter back on the grid with a team that is itself starting its journey in the sport. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us, and I want to contribute my experience now that I am fully on board.”
The first day: seat fitting and technical briefings
Bottas spent the day at the team center in Silverstone, where, among other things, the first seat fitting took place—a crucial step before he gets behind the wheel of the new car for the first time in January. This was followed by extensive meetings with engineers and aerodynamicists to understand processes, development statuses, and plans for the upcoming functional tests.
“Seeing everything come together for the first time is something special,” Bottas continues. “You can feel how much momentum there is in this project. It’s important that we get the preparation right, because these first steps are crucial to ensuring we’re ready for the first test. I can’t wait for the season to start and to be racing again.”
Team principal Graeme Lowdon is relieved that Bottas is now fully integrated: “It’s great to finally have Valtteri on board and involved. We’ve been planning this for a long time, so it’s fantastic to experience these moments now, before we contest our first season on the track.”
He adds: “I’m proud of the work everyone in the team is doing. Formula 1 is the biggest team game in the world, and it’s at this stage that you recognize the skills, talent, and expertise we have—and how well a driver like Valtteri will fit in here.”
Cadillac prepares for its baptism of fire
In order to rehearse procedures and operational processes at an early stage, Cadillac recently used a Ferrari SF-23 for testing in Imola. Sergio Pérez, Bottas’ future teammate, completed laps there and helped the team simulate operational routines – from pit stops to data analysis.
The team’s own car is currently under construction. Cadillac plans to bring the car to life for the first time before Christmas. The shakedown is scheduled for January, before the team takes part in the official pre-season test in Barcelona from January 26 to 30.
