Bottas Welcomes New Year, Full-Time Return With Cadillac
After a year as a reserve driver, Valtteri Bottas is set for a full-time F1 return in 2026 with the new Cadillac team, forming an experienced lineup with Sergio Perez.
Valtteri Bottas celebrated the New Year and his upcoming full-time return to Formula 1 with a social media post, marking the end of his stint as a reserve driver. The Finnish driver will join the new Cadillac team for the 2026 season, partnering with Sergio Perez in an experienced lineup for the American outfit's F1 debut. After a year on the sidelines with Mercedes, Bottas is set to get back to racing with a team that has significant resources and high ambitions.
Why it matters:
Bottas's signing provides the new Cadillac entry with immediate credibility and a wealth of experience, including 10 Grand Prix wins and five years with a top team like Mercedes. For a brand-new constructor, having drivers who can provide consistent, high-quality feedback is invaluable for rapid development. Pairing him with Sergio Perez, another race winner and proven points-scorer, forms one of the most experienced driver lineups on the grid, which is crucial for a team navigating its debut season.
The details:
- Bottas will race for Cadillac in 2026 after serving as Mercedes' reserve driver for the 2025 season.
- He will be joined by Sergio Perez, creating a veteran driver pairing for the team's first season.
- Cadillac is making a major marketing push, planning to reveal its first-ever F1 livery during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9.
- The strategy leverages the massive American audience of the Super Bowl, signaling Cadillac's serious intent to make a big splash in F1.
- The Finnish driver, who previously embraced Australian culture while at Alfa Romeo/Sauber, is now immersing himself in the American scene ahead of his new role.
What's next:
All eyes will be on the Super Bowl for the first public look at Cadillac's 2026 livery, a high-profile debut for the American team. Following the launch, the focus will shift to the final stages of car development ahead of the 2026 pre-season tests, where the on-track performance of the Bottas-Perez pairing will finally be put to the test.