Budkowski’s Austin comments raise fresh doubts over Bottas

Cadillac is in the final stretch of its first season in Formula 1, and questions are emerging over its driver lineup for 2027, and specifically whether Valtteri Bottas will still be on the grid next season.

Team principal Marcin Budkowski found himself navigating that delicate territory during Friday’s FIA press conference, where a question about Sergio Perez’s approaching 300th Grand Prix start unexpectedly opened the door to wider speculation about Cadillac’s driver plans.

Both Perez and Bottas are understood to have multi-year agreements structured around an initial season and an optional second year, subject to certain conditions.

With the Mexican generally making the stronger impression in their first campaign together, Bottas’ seat for 2027 has now become a recurring topic of paddock chatter.

Budkowski was keen to praise Perez’s contribution, but his subsequent remarks about the driver market offered little reassurance that Cadillac’s future line-up is already settled.

Perez is hungry, but Cadillac is keeping its options open

Asked how the team assessed a driver fighting towards the back of the grid who appeared to be outperforming his team-mate, Budkowski painted a picture of a veteran still relishing the fight.

“Look, for a driver like Checo, who, as you said, has a huge amount of experience and a number of races, I can tell you he doesn’t behave or drive like a driver who is anywhere close to retirement,” he said.

“He’s pushing very hard behind the wheel. He’s pushing us very hard also behind the scenes, in the debrief rooms and outside, and regularly texting me and other members of the team to push us to improve. So he’s hungry, he’s motivated, and that’s actually really good to see. He does it in his own style.

“We have two drivers: one is more hot and one is probably more cold, if we could say, from there. And they both push the team in their own particular ways, but Checo is, yes, pushing us very hard.

“And just looking at the way his body language on the grid, when he gets his helmet on and he gets in the car, he’s getting ready for a fight. There’s a lot of fire, there’s a lot of motivation there, so it’s really impressive for a driver of this experience.

“And at the same time, we’re getting his feedback and his input in terms of, as an experienced driver. So yes, it’s a very good combination.”

The praise was unmistakable. The same could not be said of the team's long-term commitments, particularly when the conversation moved to the possibility of signing Esteban Ocon in a reserve capacity.

“And sorry, the second question was about Esteban Ocon? Well, look, as a team principal, and I’m sure it’s the same with my colleagues, you’re getting calls and contacts from every driver or driver manager that is on the market. So, there are a number of drivers and managers who have contacted me.

“I’m not going to say who it is or who it isn’t, but pretty much all of them that are on the market have been in touch, as you’d expect. But yes, I think it’s the last place here, as you can imagine, where I would communicate anything on driver line-up.”

Budkowski’s admission that numerous drivers and managers have made contact reinforces the impression that Cadillac is keeping its options open at the very minimum.

An American driver remains part of the plan

There is another consideration shaping Cadillac’s longer-term thinking: the desire of its owners – GM and TWL Motorsports – to place an American driver in a race seat as soon as possible.

Colton Herta took part in FP1 at COTA, giving the home crowd a glimpse of a potential future candidate and inching closer to becoming eligible for an F1 Superlicence.

However, the American’s formative campaign in Formula 2 this season has been anything but impressive.

Budkowski acknowledged the appeal while stressing that nationality alone would not determine the decision.

“Obviously having an American driver in an American team is a great story,” Budkowski told Sky Sports this weekend.

“It needs to be the right time and the right driver. But we're working on that. We're working on that with Colton.

Read also:

• Perez stuns: Maiden season with Cadillac ‘one of my best years’

“There are some really exciting American talents coming up through the ranks as well. We've seen Ugo Ugochukwu winning F3. We've got [Sebastian] Wheldon coming through to F3 next year.

“So there's a lot of potential here and we'll look into that obviously.”

For Bottas, the message is hardly a declaration that his seat is lost. But with Perez earning conspicuous praise, the market already knocking on Cadillac’s door and an American prospect forming part of the team’s ambitions, the Finn cannot take his 2027 future for granted.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook