Valtteri Bottas has stated he remains unconcerned about his position at Cadillac for the 2027 Formula 1 season. This comes amidst increasing paddock speculation regarding his future with the American outfit. The Finn’s current multi-year agreement includes an option for 2027 that has not yet been formally activated by the team.
The speculation intensified following Colton Herta’s recent acquisition of an FIA Super Licence. Herta, a Cadillac test driver, secured the necessary points during his Free Practice 1 outing at the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Cadillac has consistently expressed an ambition to feature an American driver in its lineup. Herta’s Super Licence qualification now makes him eligible for a race seat.
Bottas acknowledged the volume of the rumours but indicated that his understanding of the situation remains unchanged. He stated that team decisions regarding future driver lineups require board approval, a meeting for which has not yet occurred.
“I’m quite surprised about the amount of noise on that because I know what my situation is, and yeah, all I’ve heard is that the team has been happy with what I’m doing.”
Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has publicly affirmed that retaining Bottas for 2027 is a definite possibility. Towriss noted Bottas’s professional response to the pressure.
Team Principal Marcin Budkowski has maintained a policy of not commenting on driver contracts in the press. He stated that official announcements would be made when appropriate.
Cadillac debuted in the 2026 season with Bottas and Sergio Perez as their primary drivers. Perez recently signed a long-term contract extension, securing his place with the team until 2029.
Herta’s path to the Super Licence involved multiple Free Practice 1 appearances with Cadillac throughout the 2026 season. A previous miscalculation of points after the Mexico City Grand Prix briefly left him one point short.
Another candidate for the Cadillac seat is Mercedes reserve driver Fred Vesti. Vesti has openly expressed his interest in the 2027 drive.
Vesti’s candidacy is strengthened by his existing relationship with Cadillac. He races for the manufacturer in IMSA sports car competition, where he has achieved significant success, including drivers’, team, and manufacturers’ championships in 2026.
Bottas’s performance has been under scrutiny during Cadillac’s inaugural season. Sergio Perez has generally held an advantage in race pace and qualifying.
However, Cadillac has also employed varied strategies across its two cars to accelerate learning. Bottas has also contended with reliability issues, including a suspension failure at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Other drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon, have also been linked to the potential opening at Cadillac, though they are considered less likely contenders.
Cadillac operates with technical facilities near Silverstone in the UK and headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, with additional bases in North Carolina and Michigan. The team currently uses Ferrari power units, with General Motors developing its own for 2029.
