Valtteri Bottas more involved at Cadillac: "I had never participated in the design of a steering wheel layout."

After Williams, Mercedes Benz, Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber, Valtteri Bottas thought he had seen it all Formula 1The arrival of Cadillac proved him wrong. For the first time in his career, the Finn actively participated in the design of his carfar beyond what he thought the team expected of him. “I had never participated in the design of a steering wheel layout, nor in the precise choice of buttons integrated into it,” he reveals. For example, choosing the steering ratio I want, that kind of thing. We have so many more possibilities when we start as a new team, when we're not burdened by habits or remnants of the past. We can really be involved in the design of every element of the car, which is really great., he explained to Sky Sports F1.

This freedom is made possible by the fact that Cadillac is starting from scratch, without the technical legacy and accumulated habits of established teams. The American team deliberately opted for experienced drivers rather than raw talent to be developed in its inaugural year. The choice of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez—two drivers who have competed within the paddock's top teams—follows a clear logic: to bring their in-depth knowledge of what works and what doesn't at the highest level to the team.

Where an established team like Mercedes or Red Bull Since Cadillac doesn't need its drivers to redefine the steering wheel layout or the steering ratio, it can afford—and even encourage—this type of collaboration. The drivers aren't simply there to drive, but to co-create. This approach perfectly suits two men who, after difficult endings in previous teams, are clearly eager to prove they still have much to offer Formula 1.

A sensible start at Cadillac

On the track, the American team's debut is encouraging, considering the challenge of entering Formula 1 for a new manufacturer. Bottas finished two of the first three races, while his Mexican teammate completed all three. In a championship where several established teams are experiencing reliability issues, one team brought two cars home in China and Japan, building a solid foundation, even if they crossed the finish line in the back of the grid.

Bottas and Pérez both bring valuable experience from their respective time at Mercedes and Red Bull: “We both have a lot of experience in this sport; we know what works with a good team, and we’ve also seen what doesn’t really work. Together, and especially thanks to our shared mindset, we clearly put the team first. I hope this will help us progress faster.”

A sabbatical year that changed everything

The other dimension of Bottas's resurgence is more personal. After spending the 2025 season as a reserve driver for Mercedes — without a race seat — the Finn returned in 2026 with a profoundly different perspective on his profession: “It’s really been a game changer. I appreciate being part of this world, I appreciate this sport and everything surrounding it much more than before. Especially the competitive aspect, the whole Sunday routine: getting ready, getting in the car, the starting grid, the national anthem… We appreciate all of that for what it is — we realize how lucky we are to be here. So, for me, it’s really been a game changer and I think it will help me in the years to come.”

Sergio PerezHe, who also experienced a difficult period at the end of his time at Red Bull before bouncing back, shares this same mindset. Both drivers seem to have found a second wind in this shared adventure at Cadillac, driven by the conviction that their combined experience can accelerate the development of a team that aims to climb quickly up the grid. They will be back on track at the Miami Grand Prix, from May 1st to 3rd.

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