Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish racing veteran with ten Grand Prix victories, sent ripples by the Formula 1 community with recent comments on his potential return to the schedule in 2026. After losing his Sauber seat at the end of the 2024 season, Bottas has been a reserve, but his reserve, but his reserve, but its reserve, but his sequence rolololingolololingolololingolololingolololingolololingrol, but Su alfombra de secuencia en su Seeschappenololingol a toda velocidad. En una entrevista sincera en elBeyond the gridPodcast, Bottas, spoke speculations about his future, rejecting a change to Red Bull and at the same time pronounced enthusiasm for the next entry of F1 in Cadillac, where he could possibly work with Sergio Pérez. This revelation has led to emotion and debate among fans, because the 2026 season promises a new team and an important review of regulations.
Bottas, now 35 years old, has made it clear that he is not ready to abandon Formula 1. his 12 years of experience, including five consecutive builders championships with Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, they make him a valuable possession for each team. His possibilities with Red Bull, however, seem thin. Despite the previous discussions with the team, Bottas revealed that “certain people” within Red Bull, generally speculated as main advisor Helmut Marko, are not fans of him, so the door is effectively closed in a possible step towards the Max Verstappen partner. Red Bull’s preference for the youngest drivers of his academy, such as Isack Hadjar, and his recent struggles with drivers such as Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda in the second chair, mitigate the perspectives of Bottas with the team. Instead, Bottas has caught his attention to Cadillac, the American manufacturer who would join F1 in 2026 as the 11th team.
The entrance of Cadillac, supported by General Motors and led by former Marussia Graeme Lowdon chef, offers a new opportunity for Bottas. The team is expected to combine the experience with youth, possibly combining a driver established as Bottas or Pérez with a rookie, such as Colton Herta de Indycar or Jak Crawford of F2. Bottas considers that the project is “very interesting” and emphasizes the attraction again to connect a new team. “If I were there as a driver, it would actually be very interesting because you can start from scratch and make a great influence on certain things,” he said on the podcast. Regulation 2026, which will introduce new cars and electricity units, will contribute to charm, because Bottas believes that a new team can benefit from the restart to achieve early success. His familiarity with Lowdon, who achieved his former teammate Sauber Zhou Guanyu, could also strengthen his possibilities.
In addition to Cadillac, Bottas has investigated other options, including Alpine, which will use Mercedes Power Units in 2026. Alpine discussions have occurred, but the situation of its driver is still fluid, so Pierre Gasly’s contract approaches the end and the recent changes in which Jack Doohan and Franco Colapint are involved. Bottas’s experience can be a stabilizing force for Alpine, although it recognizes the role of policy and financial support to ensure a seat. Unlike some drivers, he cannot offer “dozens of millions”, but has personal sponsors that can join him. If F1 does not come out, Bottas Indycar has not excluded, where drivers like Romain Grosjean have to prosper, but their priority remains formula 1.
The current role of Bottas in Mercedes keeps it on F1 Paddock, guides rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and receives praise from the Toto Wolff team team. However, looking at the races from Belicon, only his desire to return. “I have not finished with F1 yet,” he emphasized, to think about strong performance in his last Sauber season. While Cadillac is preparing to shake the network, the experience and determination of Bottas, they make it a convincing candidate, possibly in addition to Pérez, in what could be one of the most intriguing drivers of F1 by 2026.
