Bottas gets Cadillac seat fit ahead of 2026 F1 return

Valtteri Bottas has completed his first day as a Cadillac Formula 1 driver, ahead of his return to the world championship in 2026.

A veteran of 246 grand prix starts and 67 podium finishes, Bottas signed with the new Cadillac team for F1’s new era in 2026 after spending this year on the sidelines as Mercedes’ main reserve driver.

Bottas’ time at Mercedes ended following the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, and he is now getting to know his new outfit at its British base in Silverstone.

This has included a seat fit, as the Finn prepares to drive Cadillac’s maiden F1 car in January.

“I’m excited to be starting as a Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver – finally,” Bottas said. “This is a proud moment in my career as it marks the beginning of a new chapter back on the grid with a team that’s starting its journey in the sport. There’s a lot of hard work that lies ahead, so I’m keen to use my experience to help the team now that I’m fully on board.

“Seeing everything coming together for the first time as a brand-new team is special and makes you realise the momentum of the project. It’s important to get the preparation right as these moments really are the first steps to getting us ready for the first test. I can’t wait to get the season started and go racing once again.”

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac

Photo by: Cadillac Communications

Team principal Graeme Lowdon added: “It’s great to finally have Valtteri onboard and integrated with the team. We’ve been planning for quite some time now, so it’s fantastic to see these moments happening ahead of our first season on track.

“I’m proud of all the work everybody is doing in the team. Formula 1 is the greatest team game in the world and it’s times like this where you see the skills, talent and expertise we have, and how well such a talent like Valtteri will be at home.”

Cadillac borrowed engine supplier Ferrari’s SF-23 car for a test at Imola last month in order to practice the operational aspect of running F1 machinery. Bottas’ team-mate Sergio Perez was in action.

Cadillac has been planning to fire up its new car by Christmas before shaking it down in January, ahead of the opening pre-season test at Barcelona from 26-30 January.