Valtteri Bottas is still under Mercedes’ umbrella as a reserve driver, but the Finn is already laying the groundwork for his next big chapter – joining Cadillac’s brand-new Formula 1 squad in 2026.
In a refreshing show of collaboration between rival teams, Bottas revealed that both Mercedes is fully on board with his transition to the American outfit, ensuring a smooth handover as he prepares to hit the ground running next season.
In fact, the ten-time Grand Prix winner is already dipping his toes into Cadillac’s world, attending online meetings and even sneaking in a visit to their Silverstone headquarters for good measure.
“There have been talks. I think Graeme [Lowdon, Cadillac team principal] and Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal and CEO], they've been in talks as well,” Bottas told Crash.net.
“Mercedes has been really supportive on the transition, so I don't think they're going to block me in any way.”
A Smooth Handover Between Powerhouses
Such a cooperative vibe is a rarity in the high-stakes world of F1, where teams guard their drivers like prized possessions.
“There's been already discussions between me and Cadillac with online meetings and stuff like that, which I'm allowed to do and that's fine,” he said.
“Everyone understands that there's a lot of work to do and there's already some driver feedback that they need for certain things.
“Obviously, I'll start with Cadillac in January, but there will be a few things I could do here and there before that.”
©Mercedes
That includes some potential time in the simulator – an area where both teams are already in touch.
“I think simulator stuff, I think that’s something actually Mercedes and Cadillac are going to speak [about] this weekend. So I can let you know later,” Bottas said.
“But I have had a visit at the Silverstone facility already – just had a quick look. Stuff like that. So yeah, I'll be doing some stuff.”
Early Impressions: “Impressive” Progress at Cadillac
Bottas left Silverstone with his confidence boosted by what he saw.
“Yeah. I didn't actually expect everything to be that advanced. But I guess they started quite a while ago,” he admitted.
“There's obviously still lots of work to do but what I've seen so far has been impressive and gives me more confidence for the future.”
Cadillac team prinicpal Graeme Lowdon with Valtteri Bottas.
“If a new team were to come in and immediately be competitive against them, then you'd be pretty upset and pretty angry,” Lowdon told F1.com.
“And so, we know it's a huge challenge. It's very difficult to quantify what success can look like other than we just have to execute as well as we possibly can and gain respect from the other competitors.
“I think that's always the first target because, if we do that, then we know that we will be doing a good job.”
Read also: Bottas expects tough debut for Cadillac but ‘the sky’s the limit’
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