For the first time since 2012, Valtteri Bottas won’t feature in F1 next season. However, the GM/Cadillac’s 2026 entry will add another two seats on the grid – which Bottas sees as a boost for his chances of making a comeback.
Bottas reacts to arrival of General Motors/Cadillac
Although Bottas was frustrated to miss out on a contract for next year, his F1 career is far from over.
The Finn is expected to become a Mercedes reserve driver, even rejecting offers from IndyCar to say active in the paddock.
As Bottas has expressed consistently this year, he believes he can still offer something to Formula 1.
Given that Hulkenberg secured a full-time contract in 2022 after three seasons away from the grid, Bottas can be optimistic there is a path back.
In this context, the 35-year-old is pleased to hear that General Motors will become F1’s 11 team in 2026:
“I’m still asking myself what’s next, I still haven’t pulled the trigger,” he told the media in Qatar.
“I still want to take a bit of time and look at all the opportunities.
“Definitely, welcoming a new team into Formula 1 – is a great brand, I think it’s going to be great for Formula 1.
“It also means there’s two more seats for 2026, which is good.”
Cadillac want an experienced driver
Much like teammate Zhou Guanyu, Bottas will spend the next few weeks in negotiations with several teams.
There will be no shortage of offers for Bottas, but his priority is to be best positioned for an to F1 comeback in 2026.
Whichever contract he signs is likely to be for one season, to give him flexibility for when the driver market kicks into gear.
Cadillac have already identified Colton Herta as a leading candidate to form part of their 2026 line-up.
However, the American team is also searching for an experienced F1 driver to complete their partnership.
“From our standpoint, I think the play at the beginning would be to have one experienced driver.”
“These are the objectives at the moment,” Mario Andretti told NBC.
Why Bottas ticks all the boxes
In this context, Valtteri Bottas is an ideal fit for Cadillac F1.
Aside from his speed, the Finn offers an experienced pair of hands – immensely valuable for a team making their debut.
Although more free agents could become available in 2025, Bottas is easily one of the most accomplished drivers in the market.
Signing a driver with a strong understanding of F1’s inner workings could help mitigate some of the obstacles an inexperienced Cadillac squad will face.
Of course, it is far to soon for concrete predictions about Cadillac’s driver signing.
Still, Bottas will undoubtedly be a top candidates on the team’s shortlist.
