‘I’m not done with F1 yet’ – Bottas admits Cadillac ‘a very interesting project’ as he provides update on future plans

Valtteri Bottas, the 10-time Grand Prix winner, has unequivocally stated that he is "not done yet with Formula 1" and believes he still has "more to give" to the sport. Having lost his race seat with Kick Sauber for the 2025 season, which led to him taking on a test and reserve role with former team Mercedes, Bottas is now fully focused on securing a full-time cockpit for 2026, when significant new Technical Regulations will come into play. Speaking on the 'Beyond The Grid' podcast, the 35-year-old Finn admitted that being sidelined was "not of my own choice" and revealed that his desire to race has only intensified while watching from the sidelines. He feels that the past two years of his career, particularly his strong performances in qualifying and races towards the end of last year, do not reflect how he wants his F1 journey to conclude. Bottas firmly believes he hasn't experienced any degradation in his performance, asserting, "I haven’t felt any degradation in myself yet. That’s why I just want to keep going." Bottas has been notably linked with the ambitious Cadillac operation, an American team set to enter F1 in 2026. He views this 'start from scratch' project as "very interesting," believing his extensive experience across three different teams—including immense success with Mercedes and solid results with Williams—could make him an invaluable asset. He sees the 2026 rule change as an opportune moment, suggesting that a new team could potentially "get it right" from the outset and achieve early success. Bottas anticipates knowing more about his future plans by August, a self-imposed deadline for his decision.