Valtteri Bottas’ latest Mercedes comments suggest Cadillac have already pulled off a 2026 masterstroke

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Cadillac are currently hard at work making sure they’re in the best position possible for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

After months of speculation, Cadillac confirmed that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will be their first driver pairing in Formula 1.

Cadillac have announced several test drivers, and IndyCar star Colton Herta will race in Formula 2 next year to prepare for a potential F1 promotion in the future.

Jenson Button thinks Herta is the perfect American driver for F1, but before he finds his way onto the grid, it’s up to Bottas and Perez to prepare the team in the best way they can.

Perez has an upper hand on Bottas as he’s able to immediately start working with Cadillac, while the Finn continues in his duties as Mercedes reserve driver.

An arrangement has been reached between Mercedes and Cadillac for Bottas to do some work for his new team, although it won’t be long until they’re technically rivals.

However, the 10-time race winner has shared what he’s learned behind the scenes at Mercedes this year that suggests Cadillac have pulled off a masterstroke by bringing him in instead of a younger, less experienced driver.

READ MORE: Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

Mercedes learnings make Valtteri Bottas the perfect driver for Cadillac’s first F1 season

Bottas was speaking to Speedcafe during the United States Grand Prix weekend.

Asked about his time on the sidelines as a reserve driver at Mercedes, he said: “Being on the side, you realise how cool it is and how lucky the 20 drivers are to be there.

“I definitely see the sport in a different light. All the sessions I’ve been in the garage, listening to all the coms.

“I definitely understand how the team actually works, behind the scenes and what goes on.

“During qualifying. During the race. It’s a much bigger understanding of what is happening in the garage and from the factory support.

“Because when you’re a driver in the car, you only have one point of contact normally, your race engineer, and you don’t hear all the stuff that’s going on.

“So this year I’ve been able to see everything. How everything works. I think that can help me, especially in helping build a new team.”

Cadillac are hiring from many of their F1 rivals, but will be very inexperienced as a racing outfit at next year’s Australian Grand Prix.

It means all the processes and procedures Bottas has learned during his time at Mercedes can be transferred across and turn Cadillac into a competitive outfit.

READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers

Valtteri Bottas expecting ‘quite tricky’ Formula 1 return with Cadillac in 2026

Bottas was asked about the challenge ahead of him with Cadillac next season and said: “For me, the first years it’s going to be quite tricky with Cadillac.

“We’re not expecting big results. That’s just how it goes. We need to build up. We need to learn a lot going into the sport.

“But I’m grateful, and there would be no other series that I’d rather be in than here.”

Team principal Graeme Lowdon will be setting low expectations for Cadillac’s first year, but also will be desperate for the team not to be miles off the back of the grid.

The last new team to join Formula 1 was Haas in 2016, and they scored points on their debut in Australia thanks to Romain Grosjean.

Bottas and Perez will have that same goal in their sights, and Cadillac will hope the expertise that they bring from their times at Mercedes and Red Bull can propel them forward.