Valtteri Bottas 'mentally prepared for the worst' on F1 return

Valtteri Bottas has revealed to already 'mentally preparing himself for the worst' after signing up to the Cadillac F1 project.

After a year on the sidelines as third and reserve driver with Mercedes this season following his release from Sauber at the end of last year, Bottas joins forces at Cadillac with another exile in Sergio Perez after the Mexican parted ways with Red Bull last season.

Although Cadillac has considerable backing from General Motors, and will be supported by a power unit from Ferrari for the first two years on the grid from next season before switching to its in-house engine in 2028, all within the team are under no illusion that its debut campaign will be tough.

Bottas, who turns 36 on Thursday, has stated that it was made clear from the outset by team principal Graeme Lowdon of just how tough it will be as Cadillac tries to find its feet in F1 as the sport's 11th team.

Although he will continue in his Mercedes role for the remainder of the year, the mental reset button has been hit.

"For me, it's a bit like when I joined Alfa from Mercedes," said Bottas, speaking to selected media, including RacingNews365, of his move to a mid-grid team from the eight-time constructors' champions in 2022. "I kind of had to reset the goal.

"So I've kind of done that process already in my head. As we've been speaking for a long time with Graeme, he's always made sure that it's not going to be an easy road, that probably the first year is going to be difficult, and I've signed up for this. I know what to expect.

"Mentally, if you always kind of prepare for the worst, it's better, because whatever you then achieve is going to be really positive and rewarding.

"So just being involved, getting my hands dirty with the team, once that progress and success will come, that's the trigger for me, that's going to do the thing for me and give me that reward.

"It's all about just managing the expectations, working hard, and the rewards will come, and that's what I'm excited for. That's why I'm here."

Bottas facing 'a mountain of work'

Bottas has further revealed that he held talks with Lowdon about joining the team two years ago, when he was with Sauber, and long before it was finally granted its entry in March this year.

It was only after that point that he was able to realistically consider his options for the future before finally putting pen to paper.

"He [Lowdon] always kept in touch with me on how things are going, progressing," said Bottas. "And then, early on this year, it was clear to me that this is what I want. I want to be part of this great brand, this, let's say, start-up Formula 1 team, but with a great structure and big goals.

"I'm here to give everything I have to the team with Checo. We can definitely guide it in the right direction, and, of course, we're realistic. There's going to be a mountain of work to do, and it's going to probably be a difficult start, because it is Formula 1.

"But we're not there to stay at the back. We don't want to finish last. I believe with this structure, with this group, these people, there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to get relatively quickly up to the pace, and enjoy some success.

"We [himself and Perez] still have quite a few years left in the tank, so the goal is to enjoy the success together, eventually, when we get there."