{"id":28991,"date":"2024-12-28T08:34:31","date_gmt":"2024-12-28T13:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=28991"},"modified":"2024-12-28T08:40:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-28T13:40:07","slug":"valtteri-bottas-already-in-talks-with-cadillac-f1-ahead-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/28\/valtteri-bottas-already-in-talks-with-cadillac-f1-ahead-of-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Valtteri Bottas already in talks with Cadillac F1 ahead of 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Valtteri Bottas<\/a> still believes the door back to F1 is open, optimistic about his options for 2026. The news of Cadillac joining the grid in 2026 gives Bottas another route back to F1 – and there have already been talks.<\/p>\n

Bottas on Cadillac’s radar<\/h2>\n

Even without Cadillac’s confirmed 2026 entry, next year’s driver market was likely to be an active one.<\/p>\n

Teams like VCARB, Alpine and Williams can be expected to feature heavily in next year’s “silly season.”<\/p>\n

With that said, the addition of Cadillac as an 11th team adds another intriguing dynamic.<\/p>\n

The US outfit have already set some of the characteristics they want in their driver pairing.<\/p>\n

Having an American driver is one of their priorities, with Colton Herta<\/a> being a front-running candidate.<\/p>\n

The biggest obstacle for Herta’s F1 chances could be his Super License points. The 24-year-old must finish next year’s IndyCar season in the top positions to be eligible for an F1 seat.<\/p>\n

Regardless of whether he achieves this, Cadillac have revealed they want at least one driver with F1 experience.<\/p>\n

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Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44; 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Formula One World Championship<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links with former teammate Zhou Guanyu<\/h4>\n

Valtteri Bottas, like many of those to miss out in this year’s driver shuffle, meets this criteria.<\/p>\n

With 10 race wins and dozens of podiums to his name, the Finn would be a huge asset to a debuting team like Cadillac.<\/p>\n

Teams rarely secure drivers with such accomplishments in their first F1 seasons.<\/p>\n

Then again, he is not the only free agent with experience.<\/p>\n

Another important factor to consider is Cadillac’s recently confirmed team principal, Graeme Lowdon.<\/p>\n

The 59-year-old is part of Zhou Guanyu’s management team<\/a>, giving the Chinese driver a potential opening with the US outfit.<\/p>\n

Speaking to racingnews365<\/a>, Bottas spoke about the dynamics at play for a Cadillac seat:<\/p>\n

“Well, there’s going to be two more seats,”<\/em> he explained.<\/p>\n

“They need drivers, they need experience. So, of course, that’s very, very interesting.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We [Bottas and Zhou] have good relations with Graeme.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I don’t think it makes it more difficult for me. If anything, he’s seen what I can do and bring to the team. So I see that as a possibility.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>