Pressure mounting on Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac F1

Pressure is mounting on veteran driver Valtteri Bottas to retain his seat with the newly formed Cadillac Formula 1 team for the 2027 season. Cadillac, along with fellow veteran Sergio Pérez, were signed to multi-year contracts, but team principal Marcin Budkowski hinted that their positions could change during a recent interview at the United States Grand Prix. Pérez, however, has secured a contract that keeps him with Cadillac through at least 2029.

Budkowski's comments have fueled speculation regarding Bottas' future, as he praised the Finnish driver's performance in Austin, stating that Bottas needs to maintain that level of performance throughout the season. The team is also focusing on securing an American driver, with reserve driver Colton Herta making progress in securing an FIA Super License. Herta secured enough points during FP1 to obtain the final point needed, bringing him closer to a spot on the F1 grid.

Budkowski acknowledged that Cadillac's car is far from perfect, having had to assemble it in a short period with a team new to working together. As a result, both Pérez and Bottas were dropped 50 spots from their qualifying positions for the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix due to exceeding the allowed number of components. While it may make sense for the team to keep both drivers together to focus on improving the car for 2027, the added pressure on Bottas to maintain his seat remains high.