Valtteri Bottas is set to join the Cadillac F1 team for the upcoming season, leveraging his strong relationships with Mercedes, where he currently serves as a reserve driver. Bottas raced with Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, contributing to five consecutive Constructors’ Championships, making his return to the squad earlier this year smooth and familiar.

Although he hasn’t yet driven in a Grand Prix this season, his experience as a Grand Prix winner makes him an attractive asset for Cadillac. He will be paired with veteran Sergio Perez, who has already begun simulator work with the team.

Bottas’s official start with Cadillac is set for January 1, but discussions are ongoing between Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Cadillac’s Graeme Lowdon to allow him to contribute during the transition without breaching contractual or knowledge-sharing boundaries.

Bottas may begin simulator work for Cadillac’s virtual 2026 car before officially joining the team, with discussions ongoing about what he can contribute during the remaining months of his Mercedes contract. Mercedes is reportedly open to evaluating such requests on a case-by-case basis.

Bottas and teammate Sergio Perez recently visited Cadillac’s F1 facility near Silverstone, where Bottas was impressed by the team’s mature infrastructure, overseen by Graeme Lowdon, who previously served as CEO of the Manor/Marussia F1 team.

Speaking of his visit, Bottas revealed during a recent media interview:

“I didn’t actually expect everything to be that advanced. But I guess they started quite a while ago,” Bottas said of the enterprise.“I didn’t actually expect everything to be that advanced. But I guess they started quite a while ago,” Bottas said of the enterprise.

“There’s obviously still lots of work to do, but what I’ve seen so far has been impressive and gives me more confidence for the future.”

It’s been an unusual year for Bottas, having not raced during a season for the first time since his year as Williams’ reserve and test driver in 2012.

Having made it clear that 2025 would not spell the end of his racing career, Bottas said he’s raring to go to climb back behind the wheel of a single-seater and go racing once more.

“It definitely feels like Melbourne can’t come soon enough. Even in the first test, it’s going to be a huge moment for the team, building a team and a car from scratch. Those kinds of highlights along the way are going to be really nice to be part of.

“Just every weekend, I miss racing more and more. So yeah, I’m really keen to get going.”