Valtteri Bottas has stated that Cadillac’s Formula 1 facilities are superior to those of his former team, Mercedes. The Finnish driver joined Cadillac for their highly anticipated entry into F1 in 2026. Bottas spent five seasons with Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, securing 10 Grand Prix victories.
Cadillac, backed by General Motors, has made a substantial investment in its F1 program. This includes nearly $1 billion for its entry, encompassing a $450 million anti-dilution fee.
The team is developing multiple global sites, including facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and the UK. A new power unit facility in North Carolina is allocated approximately $140 million.
A $150 million project for a 204,045-square-foot facility in Concord, North Carolina, was approved in February 2025. This site is designated for engine design and testing, with an expected opening in the first quarter of 2027.
Cadillac currently operates its 2026 car from a Silverstone facility while its new US base is finalized. Over 600 employees are engaged in the project.
Bottas’ teammate, Sergio Pérez, echoed the sentiment regarding the team’s infrastructure. Pérez praised the scale of the operation following a visit to the Silverstone factory.
“I’ve never seen a factory like this in my career. It’s really, really impressive,” Pérez stated.
Mercedes operates a 60,000-square-meter technology campus in Brackley, UK. Their facilities include a wind tunnel, dynos, and a driver-in-loop simulator.
Mercedes has invested £70 million in renovating its Brackley factory since 2017. A further £30 million investment is planned for an expanded campus.
Despite Cadillac’s infrastructure, their debut 2026 season has been challenging. The team remains last in the Constructors’ Championship with zero points after 17 Grands Prix.
Bottas’ best finish was 13th at the Chinese Grand Prix, aided by multiple retirements. Pérez initially finished 10th in Monaco but received a penalty, dropping him to 15th.
Overheating and reliability issues have been consistent problems for the team. Neither Bottas nor Pérez has advanced from Q1 in qualifying this season.
At the recent Singapore Grand Prix on October 11, Pérez finished 17th, and Bottas finished 19th.
Pérez expressed disappointment in August 2026 regarding the team’s development. He noted a lack of improvement in recent races, leading to an operational review.
Team Principal Marcin Budkowski acknowledged a pace deficit of 1 to 1.5 seconds to competitors. The team is now focusing on the 2027 car due to limited major updates for the current season.
Bottas maintains that the team shows improvement in operations each weekend. He emphasizes extracting maximum performance from the current package.
