Bottas and Perez Reveal Race Secrets in 'Hot Ones' Challenge

Future Cadillac teammates Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas traded spicy wings for spicy secrets during a 'Hot Ones Versus' challenge, offering a candid look into their F1 lives. The pair, set to lead the new American team in 2026, tackled deeply personal questions and a lip-reading duel, all while battling the show's infamous hot sauces.

Why it matters:

For a brand-new team like Cadillac, establishing driver chemistry and public persona is crucial before even hitting the track. This lighthearted but revealing challenge serves as effective team-building and a brilliant PR move, humanizing the drivers and generating buzz for their 2026 entry. It gives fans a first glimpse at the dynamic between two of F1's most experienced veterans.

The details:

• Perez's Confession: When asked by Bottas if he'd ever urinated in the car, Perez admitted he did—but crucially, before the race started and after the national anthem, calling it "a little bit embarrassing."
• Bottas's Evasive Answer: Perez asked which of his five former teams Bottas was "most excited to leave." Bottas pointed to the "circumstances" of his exit from the Stake F1 team (Sauber) without directly criticizing them.
• The Spice Tolls: A lip-reading challenge saw Bottas win, forcing Perez to take the first bite of a wing covered in "The Last Dab" sauce, which he immediately labeled "toxic."
• A Tie in the End: Despite the fiery ordeal, the pair finished the challenge tied, with both admitting to feeling "lightheaded" from the heat.

What's next:

The spicy showdown is just the first chapter for the Bottas-Perez partnership. As one of the most experienced driver line-ups on the grid, with debuts in 2013 and 2011 respectively, all eyes will be on Cadillac to see if this on-camera camaraderie translates into on-track performance when they join the F1 grid in 2026.