P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas has confirmed he has already spoken to the people behind the General Motors 2026 Cadillac Formula 1 project over the prospects of a drive.
Valtteri Bottas is without a full-time Formula 1 seat for the 2025 season, as Sauber has confirmed rookie Gabriel Bortoleto as Nico Hulkenberg’s new teammate. However, the announcement that General Motors will enter F1 in 2026 opens up two more full-time seats, potentially positioning Bottas as an ideal experienced driver for the Cadillac-branded team. Bottas has already initiated talks regarding this opportunity, expressing interest in the project and acknowledging the increased chances of securing a seat for 2026 through GM. In the meantime, he is engaged in discussions with Mercedes for a Reserve Driver role for 2025, with Mick Schumacher’s departure offering a new opening within the team. Bottas acknowledges the difficulty of potentially taking on a reserve role but values the contributions he can offer Mercedes with his experience. He sees staying connected to F1 in 2025 as a pathway to potentially securing a drive with Cadillac in 2026, highlighting the importance of remaining in the sport to seize unexpected opportunities.
