P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Graeme Lowdon has refuted rumors suggesting Valtteri Bottas is facing the axe at Cadillac only five races into the 2026 F1 season.
Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon has denied rumors of Valtteri Bottas facing dismissal early in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The team is making its debut as F1’s 11th team this year with support from General Motors. The 2026 regulations reset provided a fresh start, but the challenges of building an F1 project from scratch have hindered their progress. Bottas, who spent last season on the sidelines with Mercedes, now partners with Sergio Perez at Cadillac. Lowdon has explicitly refuted talks of replacing Bottas due to his performance not matching Perez’s. He emphasized the media’s limited perspective on the team’s complexities and the drivers’ extensive workload. Additionally, Lowdon dispelled rumors of promoting reserve driver Colton Herta to F1 as Herta lacks sufficient super license points. The team continues its efforts to enhance competitiveness and improve car performance, disregarding baseless speculations.
