Valtteri Bottas has signed with Cadillac F1 for the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking his return to the sport after sitting out the 2025 season as a full-time driver.
What happened?
Cadillac F1 announced the signing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for the 2026 season, giving the team great experience with 527 starts between them.
The American team, headquartered in Fishers, has been building momentum with a new race shop and is set to debut in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Why it matters for Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas has 10 F1 wins and 67 podiums in 246 starts, and his experience will be valuable to the new team.
He previously raced for Mercedes, finishing second to Lewis Hamilton in 2019 and 2020, and helped the team win the constructor's championship in 2021.
What comes next?
The 2026 Formula 1 season will be the first time in a decade that the grid has expanded, with 22 drivers set to compete.
Valtteri Bottas will be 35 years old at the start of the season, and his signing marks a significant move for the American team.
The team's announcement ends months of speculation about who would drive for them, and Valtteri Bottas's experience will be crucial in their debut season.
As a former Mercedes driver, Valtteri Bottas has a strong record in the sport, including a record seven second-place finishes without a win in the 2018 season.
He emerged as an F1 driver starting at Williams as a test and reserve driver from 2010 to 2012, before being elevated to a seat in 2013.
His first podiums came a year later, though he didn't win a F1 race until he joined Mercedes.
Valtteri Bottas went to Alfa Romeo/Sauber after his stint at Mercedes but struggled, finishing 10th, 15th, and 22nd over his three seasons with the team.
The signing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez gives Cadillac F1 a strong driver lineup for their debut season.
The team's experience and talent will be put to the test in the 2026 Formula 1 season, which is set to be highly competitive.
With Valtteri Bottas on board, Cadillac F1 will be looking to make a strong impression in their first season.
The American team has been working hard to prepare for their debut, and the signing of Valtteri Bottas is a significant step forward.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches, all eyes will be on Valtteri Bottas and Cadillac F1 to see how they perform.