Valtteri Bottas has revealed that his talks with the Cadillac Formulation 1 workforce began greater than three years in the past, as he provided an replace on the outfit as Bahrain testing for the 2026 season begins at this time.
Bottas was confirmed to be a part of Cadillac’s line-up alongside former Pink Bull driver Sergio Perez for the squad’s first season within the championship. However whereas its arrival on the grid wasn’t at all times a certain factor with the unique Andretti title being denied entry, conversations have been flowing between the Finn and the workforce for over three years.
Formally becoming a member of the workforce in the beginning of the yr, Bottas joined an organisation that had already gained momentum and an ever-expanding headcount, in addition to sturdy world services in each america and England.
Bottas advised Kym Illman: “Bit greater than three years in the past was the primary talks earlier than the workforce had really affirmation that there will probably be in F1. However with Graeme Lowdon, that is when the primary dialogue began after which he stored me up to date on the progress.”
He added: “Lastly once they obtained the entry then we began severe talks as a result of earlier in 2025, Cadillac Formulation 1 workforce grew to become my precedence. It was like, that is the place I need to be. That is what I would like my subsequent challenge to be. Then ultimately it was really fairly simple as a result of I needed to be there and clearly they needed me as nicely.”
On the workforce tradition that is forming beneath the umbrella of Basic Motors, he confirmed the sheer quantity of dedication and emotion that his colleagues are bringing to the challenge.
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing, Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Photograph by: Joe Portlock / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“I have been really stunned in how good of a form the workforce is contemplating how late they obtained the affirmation that they are often in Formulation 1.
“The workforce is hiring on a regular basis. The workforce is rising on a regular basis. The manufacturing facility is rising. They’re constructing extra services within the US. They’re fairly severe about this. They don’t seem to be right here for enjoyable…
“It was a rush to get the automobile prepared and the way a lot it really meant to all of the folks to have the automobile operating. Like there was folks crying when the automobile ran for the primary time.
“That is how a lot it meant to the folks working flat out [for] so lengthy.
This week Cadillac joins the ten different groups of the championship for testing in Bahrain after the organisation revealed its livery to the world for the primary time throughout the Tremendous Bowl halftime present.
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