Valtteri Bottas has explained some of the work he has done with newcomers Cadillac that he's never been able to do in F1 before, with the Finn finding plenty of positives in driving for the American squad.
Having previously raced for Williams, Mercedes and the Sauber team under its guise as Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber, Bottas has plenty of experience garnered from driving for British, German and Swiss teams.
But now that he's moved to the first brand-new team to join the F1 grid in a decade, Bottas has been able to get more heavily involved in the design of the car – something he had never previously experienced.
“I’ve never been part of designing a steering wheel layout, or you know, choosing the exact buttons for the wheels,” he explained to Sky Sports F1.
“For example, choosing the very own steering ratio I want, stuff like that. There’s so much more you can do when you are starting as a new team, when you are not carrying any habits or bits from the past. You can really be part of designing everything in the car, which is super cool.”
Bottas has completed two out the first three races with Cadillac
Cadillac always faced a tough ask to enter F1 under their own steam and be competitive from the word go, but they have impressed many with what they have achieved so far in 2026. Bottas has finished two of the first three races, while team mate Sergio Perez has completed all three.
Considering how many established teams have struggled with reliability, getting two cars to the flag in China and Japan represents a strong foundation from which to build and Cadillac can draw on the experience of Bottas and Perez, both of whom have previously driven for top teams in Mercedes and Red Bull.
“I think we have both seen a lot in this sport, we have seen what works with a good team, and we have both also seen what doesn’t quite work,” Bottas added.
“We have both seen the good and bad. I think we have a good understanding of what the team needs, what the car needs to operate to be at the best level. So, I think together, especially with the mindset we both have, we are definitely putting the team first ahead of us. That will hopefully help us to improve quicker.”
Bottas also noted that his time out from the sport – the Finn was Mercedes’ Reserve Driver in 2025 – has done nothing but motivate him and make him appreciate what he has now he is back in a full-time race seat, something again he and Perez have in common.
“[It] has made a big difference," he said. "I appreciate being part of the sport, I appreciate the sport, everything around it much more than before.
“Especially the racing side of it, the whole process on Sunday, you get ready, jump in the car, the grid, the national anthem, you just have this appreciation of everything – that we are so lucky to be there. So, for me, it has made a huge difference and I think it can help me in the years ahead.”
