Bottas signals aggressive Cadillac F1 upgrade plan ahead

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Valtteri Bottas struck an optimistic tone after Cadillac reached a first key early milestone in its fledgling campaign, with both cars finishing the Chinese Grand Prix – an achievement that even front-runners McLaren and Red Bull Racing have yet to match in 2026.

In only its second race, Cadillac brought both drivers home, with Bottas leading team-mate Sergio Pérez across the line in 13th and 14th.

While the result may seem modest on paper, it marks a solid foundation for a team still finding its feet on the grid.

A ‘good starting point’

"For the second race, to finish with both cars and be P13 and P14, it is decent and a good starting point," Bottas said.

The Finn was realistic about where Cadillac stands competitively, acknowledging that outright pace remains a limitation.

"For sure, we are lacking pace; we can see that it is pretty much only Aston Martin at the moment that we can fight with, but at least we can fight with them,” he added;

"But if we want to beat some other teams, then we need more performance."

Even so, the ability to consistently run and finish races is already paying dividends, especially compared to more established outfits still battling inconsistency.

Aggressive upgrade push ahead

Looking forward, Bottas revealed that Cadillac is wasting no time in pushing development, with a relentless upgrade schedule already in motion.

"We were planning to have [an upgrade] for almost every race now, so for sure, there will be something for Japan, and then hopefully something bigger after the spring break.

"I actually think [the break] is quite beneficial for us, we have more time to sort things out because we still have issues.

"We still have not had a trouble-free weekend, and there will be more time to gain more performance, so everyone has been working flat out for months now.

"So actually, with a bit of a breather, as well, it is good."

With momentum building and a clear development roadmap in place, Cadillac’s steady start could soon evolve into something far more competitive as the season unfolds.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.