Valtteri Bottas issues promising Cadillac 'survival' prediction

Valtteri Bottas has issued Cadillac a promising prediction regarding its brake and cooling issues, insisting that if it can "survive" the Austrian Grand Prix, it can "survive anywhere".

Formula 1's newest outfit has been plagued by cooling and brake issues across the opening seven rounds, with Bottas having suffered a complete brake failure in Barcelona.

The Finn has suffered back-to-back retirements in Monaco and Spain due to similar issues; however, Cadillac has brought its latest major upgrade package to the Red Bull Ring.

Cadillac's upgrade package targets both performance and reliability, with updates to the sidepods and floor, while improving cooling has been one of the key areas of focus.

Much of the American outfit's brake system is supplied by Brembo, which Charles Leclerc heavily criticised earlier this year before switching to Lewis Hamilton's brake configuration.

Bottas does not believe Cadillac's problems have been caused by parts not manufactured by the team and believes that if it can get through this weekend without issues, it bodes very well for the remainder of the season.

Asked if Cadillac's cooling and braking issues are due to parts not made by the team, Bottas told select media, including RacingNews365: "No, I wouldn't say so. Actually, we know that we can make some different parts. 

"We have made some different parts for here, and I actually feel like if we can survive here, we should be able to survive anywhere. 

"It's a really hard place on the brakes, with the slight altitude and the temperatures, so it's a good test that, if we make it here, then we should have found a fix."

Cadillac's midfield pursuit

The Austrian Grand Prix is set to see sizzling temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, representing a major test for cooling systems and brakes.

Regarding the performance aspect of Cadillac's upgrade, Bottas believes it could be worth a few tenths of a second, boosting the team's fight to break into the midfield.

"In theory, it's a good step forward," Bottas added on the upgrade package. "I think we're talking in the region of 10 points of downforce, which is a decent step, and, combined with the reliability updates for the cooling, hopefully we can be a bit closer again."