Valtteri Bottas has said once again that he is not losing sleep over Cadillac's continued efforts to secure a Formula 1 superlicence for Colton Herta.
Despite the American outfit seemingly keeping its options open for next season, the Finn remains convinced his place on the team's 2027 grid is safe, insisting that nothing has changed in the assurances he has received.
Herta's latest opportunity to strengthen his superlicence credentials comes in Friday's opening practice session in Sao Paulo, where he will take over Sergio Perez's Cadillac. The appearance will bring the IndyCar race-winner to the 40-point threshold required for F1’s mandatory passport.
But Bottas sees little reason to interpret the team's efforts as a threat to his own future.
Bottas backs his own chances
Asked by F1's official channel whether he expected to remain with Cadillac next season, the experienced Finn offered an emphatic response.
“That’s what I think, yes,” he said. “If I would do betting – I’m not allowed to do betting by the way – but if I [did], I would bet for that.”
With Perez already confirmed for another campaign, the remaining seat has inevitably become a talking point, particularly after the Mexican acknowledged that Cadillac faces a “difficult choice” between his current team-mate and Herta.
Bottas, however, insists his understanding of the agreement remains unchanged.
“In my head, it should be okay,” he said. “That’s what I signed up for, long-term. I haven’t heard anything else than that. So in my head it should be all good.”
Herta's superlicence is a precaution
The Finn also offered a practical explanation for Cadillac's determination to get Herta over the superlicence line.
While teams are required to give rookie drivers four practice outings during the season, Friday will mark the American's fifth appearance for the outfit.
Crucially, Herta risks losing the points earned through his second-place finish in the 2024 IndyCar championship if he fails to secure his superlicence this year.
“It kind of makes sense for him because I understood that if he misses the superlicence this year, then it’s going to be almost impossible to get it,” said Bottas. “And as long as he gets it now, it’s going to be valid for a few years.
“So I’m pretty sure the team wants to have that just in case, not necessarily for next year. So that’s at least what I hope.
“But from my side, nothing has changed. The team has told me they don’t want to change anything. So that is where we are.”
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Bottas is clearly aware that Cadillac wants to preserve its options, but he is choosing to take the team's assurances at face value.
Whether that confidence proves justified remains to be seen, but the Finn is certainly not behaving like a driver preparing to surrender his seat.
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