Valtteri Bottas insists Cadillac seat safe despite growing F1 axe rumours

Valtteri Bottas has insisted he remains relaxed about his Cadillac future, despite mounting speculation that Colton Herta could replace him for 2027.

The Finn, who joined Cadillac for its debut season alongside Sergio Perez, holds a multi-year deal to extend his stay into 2027. That option has yet to be formally triggered by the American outfit, fuelling talk in the paddock that a change could be coming.

Herta, who has been building super licence points through a string of Free Practice 1 outings this season, has emerged as a leading contender for the seat, with Cadillac having made no secret of its ambition to field an American driver.

Following his latest first practice appearance in São Paulo, the American driver does now have the necessary points total to race in F1.

Speaking to select media, including RacingNews365, Bottas admitted he had been taken aback by the scale of the rumours.

"I'm quite surprised about the amount of noise on that because I know what my situation is, and yeah, all I've heard is that the team has been happy with what I'm doing," Bottas said.

"But at the same time, we know how this sport works, and especially now, everyone wants to be in Formula 1, and if somebody sees an opportunity somewhere, they're going to try and go for it, one way or the other. 

"But yeah, the way our team is structured and the way decisions are made for the future, everything needs to be approved by the board. And I believe that meeting is still yet to happen. But yeah, I've been convinced that nothing has changed. So that's where we are."

Valtteri Bottas agrees Cadillac axe would be a surprise

Herta is not the only external name being linked to Bottas' cockpit. Mercedes reserve driver Fred Vesti has also been positioning himself as a candidate, having impressed in Mexico by finishing third in Free Practice 1 while standing in for George Russell, just 0.111 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli. 

The Dane's ties to General Motors, having raced and won titles for Cadillac in IMSA sports car competition, have only strengthened the chatter.

Asked how odd it would be if Cadillac were to question his performances after a season of following team instructions and utilising his experience, Bottas replied: "I agree. Yeah, it would be very odd. So that's why I don't think anything is going to change with my situation. 

"That was kind of always the deal, and all season I've been really following instructions, and sometimes it has been very clear that I should just try and get the car over the finish line.

"But of course, there are always people who look from the outside. They don't maybe understand the big picture, and then you get the criticism, which is normal in the sport. 

"But it's just the main thing is that we know where we are. I know that, I know what my job is, and if they want something further from me, then I'm sure they will tell me."