Dec.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes duties ended on Sunday night – and by Monday he was already at Cadillac’s Silverstone base for a look at the 2026 monocoque, early seat-fit work and integration meetings for the all-new project.
Team boss Graeme Lowdon told Ilta-Sanomat the Finn was one of the easiest decisions of the entire program.
“Valtteri’s qualifying pace is really well known,” Lowdon said. “He has regularly beaten his teammate throughout his career. Through him we get a very accurate reference of where the car is at its true level.”
With the 2026 regulation reset making every team’s starting point a mystery, Cadillac wanted a benchmark who won’t fluctuate.
“Honestly, no one knows where each team is going to be,” he said. “That’s why we need a driver whose performance doesn’t falter. Valtteri is exactly that.”
Lowdon – who has built a new team from scratch in F1 before – said Bottas’ experience was a decisive factor.
“We needed a driver who understands how to develop a car and how to keep the team together when everything around them is changing. That would be a big burden for a young driver.”
He also made clear that Cadillac wants the “real” Bottas – the one seen at Sauber, with moustaches, humour and unusual social-media posts that have made him a fan favourite.
“We’ve seen his true character come out at Sauber. He’s been given more freedom to be himself. We’re not going to restrict that,” said Lowdon. “It’s important that fans see what drivers are really like. Valtteri can be Valtteri.”
Lowdon, who has known Bottas since his F3 days, called him “calm, analytical and very collaborative” – ideal for a team that has run more than 9,000 job interviews this year and is assembling multiple parallel departments.
“We are building four or five projects at the same time,” he added. “We need a driver who can bring clarity and continuity. Valtteri does that naturally.”
Bottas’ popularity is another asset.
“It’s great to see the support that Valtteri and Sergio Perez are receiving. The fan activity brings a lot of energy to the team.”
Lowdon insisted there is no conflict between Bottas’ laid-back online persona and his professionalism. “He communicates in a way that makes him approachable without affecting his work ethic or speed,” he said. “This sport needs personalities.
He’s also not concerned about Bottas’ limited driving in 2025.
“Speed and experience will not disappear,” Lowdon said. “We will build our entire project on them.”
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