How Cadillac is preparing for the F1 regulation changes

While F1 is preparing for a true revolution this season, and the drivers will be on the front line to adapt. On the cusp of major changes, Valtteri Bottas, back on track with Cadillac after a year as a reserve driver at Classic Mercedes for saleHe opened up about how drivers adapt to each new set of regulations. The Finn is thus preparing to experience his fourth change of regulations, this time with a rookie team.

This adaptation process is a long-term undertaking and begins on the simulator. It starts even before the regulations change, before you even have the car. It starts in the simulator. But it's only a simulation. When you arrive on the track, that's where you get your first sensations and the real work begins. »

In addition to the new regulations, the former teammate of Lewis Hamilton will have to contend with a completely new team. Alongside Sergio Pérez, the #77 will help shape the new team on the grid. While Cadillac joins the field at an opportune time, when the cards should be reshuffled, it nevertheless lacks past experience to draw upon. It's a major change. It's new regulations, a new engine, a new team. Almost the entire team is made up of people I've never worked with before. There are a lot of things to adapt to., he confides. The list is long. »

The pilot sets the pace

Recruited for his experience, Valtteri Bottas has already faced several rule changes. "2014 was a huge change. In 2017, cars became bigger."However, the upheavals expected this season promise to be unprecedented in scale." This change could be even more significant, according to simulator work. Less downforce, narrower tires, a bit more sliding, but much more slipstreaming on corner exit. says he. Powertrain management will be a key element that drivers and teams will have to learn to deal with. »

The pilot will also be a key player in the initial development of the car. " When you're doing the initial break-in, you have no reference point to compare yourself to others. The driver's role is to review the list of priorities. declares the Cadillac recruit. It's a combination [of the driver's feel and the engineers' recommendations]. Today, engineers have so many analytical tools at their disposal that they can sometimes detect things you can't feel in the car, and vice versa. Data doesn't necessarily reflect how you feel. Valtteri Bottas continues: At first, a lot of things rely on instinct. Try different flying styles. You have to test everything.. It will become easier. In the simulator, it's more work for the pilot, but that's the initial phase. »

Until the General Motors engines become operational by 2029, the Cadillac single-seaters will be powered by Ferrari power units and equipped with the gearboxes of the TeamStarting with an engine designed by an already experienced team is, according to Valtteri Bottas, " The good choice ". He pursues : " You can focus on the chassis rather than all the engine-related aspects; it would be too much to manage at this stage. »

After the first pre-season tests in Barcelona, ​​Cadillac will unveil its single-seater on February 8, during the Super Bowl halftime show, before moving on to the second winter testing session in Bahrain.

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