2026 F1 hopeful risks becoming a meme after latest post at Bahrain Grand Prix, he’s sending the wrong message

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A number of experienced Formula 1 drivers lost their seats in 2024, but some are trying to fight their way back onto the grid. There was an influx of young talent over the winter, with five rookies entering the fray.

Sergio Perez was perhaps the highest-profile casualty as he split with Red Bull at the end of the year. Perez has been strongly linked with Cadillac, who will become the sport’s 11th team in 2026.

By contrast, Daniel Ricciardo considers himself retired after losing his Racing Bulls spot. Ricciardo hoped to return to Red Bull but has now given up on his dream of winning races again.

Likewise, another comeback for Kevin Magnussen looks unlikely, with the Dane’s name rarely mentioned in conversations. The former Haas driver has pivoted to sportscars for 2025.

Valtteri Bottas has stayed active in Formula 1 by returning to Mercedes as reserve driver. Like Perez, Bottas is hopeful of bagging a Cadillac seat.

Valtteri Bottas may not be taken seriously after his social media posts at Mercedes

Bottas was once considered one of the most serious characters on the F1 grid. But he’s totally transformed his image in recent times.

Donning a bleached mullet and a moustache that’s reminiscent of Nigel Mansell, Bottas has become a cult figure among the sport’s fans. Many have thoroughly enjoyed his amusing social media posts.

Mercedes have seen an opportunity they can exploit on their channels. At the Japanese GP, they filmed Bottas riding a nearby rollercoaster with a GoPro camera.

And ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Bottas delighted his fans once again by sharing a sunbathing photo in the paddock. He continues to generate publicity even after dropping off the grid, but it may not entirely be the right kind.

Cadillac, and any other suitors, need to look at Bottas as a serious professional racing driver. He’s a veteran of nearly 250 Grands Prix and has 10 victories to his name, but it’s easy to lose sight of that given his online persona.

If he comes to be viewed as a meme – and that’s the direction it’s headed – it could actually hurt his chances of a return. He needs to recognise that this is a possibility.

The latest on Valtteri Bottas’ proposed F1 comeback with Cadillac

It’s worth stressing that Bottas has already proved his worth as a Mercedes reserve driver. He showed exactly why the team signed him at the last race in Japan.

Bottas gave Kimi Antonelli tips on tyre warm-up before qualifying, and it helped him turn his weekend around. The Italian is the third-youngest driver in F1 history so will benefit more than anyone else from the presence of Lewis Hamilton’s old teammate.

Bottas should be doing more to emphasise this aspect of his role, rather than trying to become the next Ricciardo. With the vast majority of the grid under contract for next year already, the competition for the Cadillac seats is going to be fierce.

It was reported at the end of last month that Bottas is ‘waiting’ on Cadillac to make a decision. At 35, he knows his F1 career may be over if he misses out for a second straight season.