Valtteri Bottas says Cadillac has made sure its drivers are under no illusions over how hard the newest Formula 1 team’s early years in the sport will be.
Cadillac will join the grid in 2026 and this week confirmed Bottas and Sergio Perez will form its first driver line-up, opting for an experienced pairing to help with the team’s development. Bottas is currently reserve driver at Mercedes and has 10 wins to his name, but says the different challenge of helping such a big team start from scratch was enticing enough to stomach potentially being at the back of the grid initially.
“For me, it’s a bit like when I joined from Mercedes to Alfa – I kind of had to reset the goals,” Bottas said. “I’ve kind of done that process already in my head and for this one, as we’ve been speaking for a long time with Graeme [Lowdon, team principal], he’s always made sure that it’s not going to be an easy road, for the first year, it’s going to be difficult.
“I’ve signed up for this – I know what to expect. Always mentally, if you prepare for the worst, it’s better, because then whatever you achieve, that’s going to be really positive and rewarding. So for me just being involved, getting my hands dirty with the team, once that progress and success will come, that’s the trigger for me. That’s going to do the thing for me and give me that reward.
“It’s all about just managing the expectations and working hard, and the rewards will come. That’s what I’m excited for and that’s why I’m here.
“And for me and Checo, it’s a really unique opportunity. Not many people have done this in the history of F1, to be part of a new team with this structure and this backing. It’s exciting.”
Bottas also says he has been in discussions over joining Cadillac for a number of years and believes he and Perez can be racing in competitive machinery soon enough, despite both turning 36 before the start of next season.
“Actually, the first talks we had with Graeme about this opportunity was about two years ago now, and he’s always kept me in touch on how things are going and progressing,” Bottas said. “And then, early on this year, it was clear for me that this is what I want. I want to be part of this great brand, this, let’s say, start-up Formula 1 team, but with great structure and big goals. And I’m here to give everything I have to the team.
“With Checo, we can definitely guide to the right direction. Of course, we’re realistic. It’s going to be a mountain of work to do, and it’s going to probably be a difficult start, because it is Formula 1. But we’re not there to stay at the back. We don’t want to finish last.
“I believe with this structure, with this group, these people, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get relatively quickly up to the pace and that way enjoy some success. And we still have quite a few years left in the tank with Checo, I think, so the goal is to enjoy the success together eventually when we get there.”
