Valtteri Bottas has wasted no time getting started with Cadillac to prepare for his Formula 1 return in 2026, taking part in a seat fit at the team’s factory one day after the end of the 2025 season.
Cadillac announced Bottas alongside Sergio Perez earlier this year, but did not have the same freedom to work with the Finn initially as he was still employed as Mercedes’ reserve driver for 2025. Fresh from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Bottas flew to the United Kingdom to visit Cadillac on Monday, carrying out his seat fit and other preparatory work at the first opportunity.
“I’m excited to be starting as a Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver – finally,” Bottas said. “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’s starting its journey in the sport. There’s a lot of hard work that lies ahead, so I’m keen to use my experience to help the team now that I’m fully on board.
“Seeing everything coming together for the first time as a brand-new team is special and makes you realize the momentum of the project. It’s important to get the preparation right as these moments really are the first steps to getting us ready for the first test. I can’t wait to get the season started and go racing once again.”
Perez has already been able to work freely with Cadillac since his signing, and completed a two-day testing of previous car (TPC) outing at Imola last month. With Bottas now joining too, team principal Graeme Lowdon says it’s another significant step towards Cadillac’s debut season in 2026.
“It’s great to finally have Valtteri onboard and integrated with the team,” Lowdon said. “We’ve been planning for quite some time now, so it’s fantastic to see these moments happening ahead of our first season on track.
“I’m proud of all the work everybody is doing in the team. Formula 1 is the greatest team game in the world and it’s times like this where you see the skills, talent and expertise we have, and how well such a talent like Valtteri will be at home.”
