Valtteri Bottas, the experienced Finnish Formula 1 driver, is navigating a challenging season with Cadillac, the sport’s newest team, after a successful tenure with Mercedes and Williams. At 37, Bottas has transitioned from competing for race wins and podiums to helping build a nascent team still searching for its footing in the highly competitive environment of Formula 1.
Bottas joined Cadillac ahead of the 2026 season, a team that currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ championship without having scored a single point. This marks a significant shift from his time at Mercedes, where he was regularly fighting for victories and contributing to a dominant championship-winning outfit. Over his career, Bottas has accumulated 10 Grand Prix wins and 67 podium finishes, ranking him among the most accomplished active drivers in terms of podium appearances. His last podium came in 2021.
Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Bottas acknowledged the challenges he expected with Cadillac, describing the year as one focused on problem-solving, steady progress, and simultaneous development across multiple areas. Cadillac is building its competitive structure from the ground up—establishing factories, developing cars, preparing to produce engines from 2029, and fostering a culture geared toward performance.
Bottas is encouraged by the improvements he has witnessed, particularly praising Cadillac’s new Silverstone facility as the most impressive he has encountered in the sport. However, car reliability has been a significant issue this season, with Bottas failing to finish eight of the 16 races so far. These retirements hamper both race results and the gathering of critical data necessary for ongoing development.
Despite these setbacks, Bottas has adapted his mindset to the present reality. His focus remains on maximizing his own performance and supporting his teammates and team members to contribute fully. “It’s not just about this weekend but also about what could help us in the short and long term,” he said, highlighting the dual nature of feedback in a developing operation versus a mature championship contender.
Bottas’s presence alongside fellow veteran Sergio Pérez brings experience to Cadillac, especially valuable for a team at the back of the grid. Both drivers have endured the challenge of competing alongside multiple world champions—Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, Pérez alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull—providing them with insights into the demands and dynamics of top-tier racing.
Beyond the track, Bottas has been cultivating interests and ventures outside F1. He and his partner, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, own a vineyard and luxury accommodation in South Australia’s McLaren Vale region, which he plans to visit during the summer break. In addition, he holds stakes in Kahiwa Coffee Roasters in Finland and part-ownership of his hometown ice hockey club, the Lahti Pelicans.
While these activities offer Bottas control over his time and suggest a life prepared for the future, he remains committed to racing for now. He expressed optimism about his ongoing role at Cadillac, stating that he hopes to see the fruits of his hard work in the coming years and acknowledged that drivers like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have extended their competitive careers well into their late thirties and beyond.
Asked about a possible future transition into a non-driving role within Cadillac, Bottas responded cautiously, emphasizing his desire to continue racing for as long as possible while leaving open the possibility of future involvement behind the scenes.