Two 2025 F1 drivers are now ‘hurting’ Valtteri Bottas’ reputation amid Cadillac interest

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Valtteri Bottas is being heavily linked with F1’s newcomers Cadillac. He is looking to make his return to the grid in 2026.

The 35-year-old has been acting as Mercedes’ reserve driver in 2025 after his exit from Sauber. Bottas has had a huge impact on Kimi Antonelli during his rookie season, providing great experience for the Silver Arrows.

Toto Wolff says Bottas deserves a race seat, and the Mercedes boss will not stand in his way of finding a full-time drive for next season. The Finn is not shy of options for 2026.

Bottas has been linked with Alpine in recent weeks, as Flavio Briatore debates whether to drop Franco Colapinto after the summer break. The Enstone outfit would be a short-term option, but Bottas has hinted that he would be open to Alpine.

Cadillac have held an interest in Bottas for some time, with the American outfit considering him one of their top candidates. The Finn seems to be in a strong position to make a return in 2026, but his reputation is being damaged by two current drivers.

Sauber duo Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are ‘hurting’ Valtteri Bottas’ stock amid Cadillac interest

There is no question that Bottas will provide an abundance of experience for Cadillac, which they desperately need as a new team. But his results in recent years do not make for good reading.

The 35-year-old had a torrid three years at Sauber from 2022 to 2024, scoring 59 points. He failed to score points last season as the team finished bottom of the constructors’ championship.

Bottas and Zhou Guanyu left the team at the end of the year to make way for Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Sauber’s new pair have turned a corner, with the team now established as a competitive midfield outfit, sitting seventh in the standings.

Hulkenberg grabbed an incredible podium at Silverstone, while Bortoleto is starting to break into Q3 more often. According to a report from RacingNews365, there is ‘no doubt’ that Sauber’s 2025 drivers are ‘hurting’ Bottas’ stock in F1.

The same applies to the Finn’s 2024 teammate, who is being mentioned ‘less and less’ for a seat at Cadillac. Reports suggested that Zhou had been rejected by Cadillac for 2026, with the team moving on to new targets.

It is worth noting that Sauber have made significant operational changes since Bottas’ departure. Hulkenberg and Bortoleto are benefitting from a better team and car, which the Finn only had for the final races of 2024, when he reached Q3 in Abu Dhabi and Zhou finished P8 in Qatar.

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

Where Valtteri Bottas now stands with landing a seat at Cadillac

Cadillac are unlikely to confirm their 2026 drivers during the summer break. But recent speculation has suggested that the team have now decided on their first driver line-up in F1.

Bottas is ‘guaranteed’ to join Cadillac next season, having held discussions with the team over the last few months. He is looking for a long-term offer in F1, and the General Motors-backed team will be keen to utilise his experience.

‘Many people’ in F1 think Sergio Perez will join Bottas at Cadillac, giving the team a line-up of proven race winners. Other candidates such as Felipe Drugovich, Yuki Tsunoda, Jack Doohan and Jak Crawford have been linked, but it seems the team favour experience.

Given the long-term deals the team will likely offer, Bottas and Perez may still be at Cadillac in 2027. The question now is whether they can be competitive with their Ferrari power unit under F1’s new regulations.