Valtteri Bottas reveals reason behind Cadillac F1 move

Valtteri Bottas has explained the reasoning behind his decision to sign for Cadillac's F1 project. 

Bottas was announced as one of Cadillac's two drivers on Tuesday, with fellow F1 veteran Sergio Perez partnering him in a line-up with 527 grand prix starts, 16 wins and 106 podiums between them.

The Finnish driver had been serving as Mercedes' reserve following the loss of his Stake F1 seat at the end of 2024, but was keen to return to the grid full-time, and given his experience of navigating both world championship-challenging and midfield teams, was a prime candidate.

The team, backed by General Motors, is to use a Ferrari power unit for its first two seasons in operation before running an in-house designed unit for 2028, with Bottas keen to turn it into a force to be reckoned with.

"From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded," Bottas explained.

"This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision. It's not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid. 

 "I’ve had the honour of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.

"This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me. 

"I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. 

"I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step."