Valtteri Bottas Completes First Official Week as Cadillac Formula 1 Team Driver Ahead of 2026 Season

Valtteri Bottas has officially begun his first week as a Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver, marking a major milestone in the American manufacturer’s preparation for its debut on the Formula 1 grid in 2026. As part of his initial integration into the team, Bottas completed a detailed seat fit at Silverstone, with the team releasing rights-free footage and imagery showcasing the Finn’s first steps with the new outfit.

The 10-time Grand Prix winner expressed his excitement as he formally joins the project that is set to bring Cadillac into F1 for the first time.

Valtteri Bottas: “A proud moment and the start of a new chapter”

“I’m excited to be starting as a Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver — finally. This is a proud moment in my career as it marks the beginning of a new chapter back on the grid with a team that’s starting its journey in the sport,” Bottas said during his first week of preparations.

He added that the team faces significant work ahead as it develops its 2026 challenger:
“There’s a lot of hard work that lies ahead, so I’m keen to use my experience to help the team now that I’m fully on board. Seeing everything coming together for the first time as a brand-new team is special and makes you realize the momentum of the project.”

Bottas emphasised the importance of these early steps as Cadillac F1 builds toward its first on-track appearance next year:
“It’s important to get the preparation right as these moments really are the first steps to getting us ready for the first test. I can’t wait to get the season started and go racing once again.”

Graeme Lowdon: “Fantastic to see these moments happening”

Graeme Lowdon, who has been instrumental in leading Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1, welcomed Bottas’ arrival and integration.

“It’s great to finally have Valtteri onboard and integrated with the team. We’ve been planning for quite some time now, so it’s fantastic to see these moments happening ahead of our first season on track,” Lowdon said.

He praised both Bottas and the team’s collective effort in preparing for 2026.
“I’m proud of all the work everybody is doing in the team. Formula 1 is the greatest team game in the world and it’s times like this where you see the skills, talent and expertise we have, and how well such a talent like Valtteri will be at home.”

With Bottas now officially embedded in the organisation and preparations accelerating, Cadillac’s 2026 F1 debut continues to gather momentum.