Canadian GP
Valtteri Bottas Eyes F1 Comeback With Cadillac Amid Aston Martin Shakeup
With the Formula 1 world abuzz ahead of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, veteran driver Valtteri Bottas has made it clear: he’s not done with F1 yet. After losing his full-time seat at Kick Sauber for the 2025 season, Bottas stepped into a reserve role at Mercedes. But as he confirmed on the Beyond The Grid podcast, he’s already setting his sights on a 2026 comeback — potentially with the incoming Cadillac F1 team or even sooner amid Aston Martin’s current crisis.
“I still have more to give,” Bottas stated emphatically. “F1 is still the number one thing in my life.”
This declaration comes at a critical time. With Cadillac, backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, preparing for its 2026 debut, Bottas finds himself on a shortlist of experienced drivers being considered to lead the American team’s maiden Formula 1 campaign. His resume — 10 Grand Prix wins and 67 podiums across stints with Mercedes, Williams, and Alfa Romeo — makes him a natural fit.
Speaking about the opportunity, Valtteri Bottas described Cadillac’s entry as a “very interesting project,” especially with the new 2026 technical regulations set to level the playing field. “You could actually make a big influence on certain things, which direction to go,” he explained. “That would be very motivating and rewarding when the success comes.”
But for Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac might not be the only door opening. Just days ago, reports emerged that Aston Martin may need a last-minute replacement for Lance Stroll, who is recovering from a recurring injury stemming from a 2023 cycling accident. With both Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe Drugovich potentially unavailable due to other commitments, with Valtteri Bottas Aston Martin could look beyond its current reserve pool.
Enter Valtteri Bottas — a proven, race-ready driver with deep ties to Mercedes, whose power units Aston Martin uses. If tapped, the Canadian Grand Prix could mark an unexpected-but high—stakes—return to the grid for the Finnish driver.
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While Valtteri Bottas emphasised his goal is to return full-time in 2026, he hasn’t ruled out racing sooner. “I know my timeline… August is a good target,” he said, suggesting he’d like clarity on his future in the coming months.
As F1 approaches its next major technical shakeup in 2026, teams are positioning themselves for long-term success. For Cadillac, Valtteri Bottas offers leadership and immediate credibility. For Aston Martin, he may be the short-term fix to an urgent problem. For Valtteri Bottas, either opportunity could reignite a career that he insists is far from over.
