Valtteri Bottas is beginning to make his case that he should be back on the Formula 1 grid next season.

Sauber decided against extending Valtteri Bottas’ contract last year after three seasons with the team.

He finished 22nd in the drivers’ championship after failing to score a point, and Sauber will feel their decision to hire Nico Hulkenberg has already been justified as he sits on the cusp of the top 10 in the standings with 20 points.

Despite the Finn’s struggles last year, Bottas is making a play to return to F1 next season.

Bottas released a viral social media clip alluding to his interest in racing for Cadillac, which will be F1’s newest team next season.

Cadillac haven’t yet decided on either of their new drivers for 2026 as their current priority is getting their first car ready.

Formula 1’s winter testing schedule is going to put Cadillac under further pressure, with the first pre-season outing scheduled for the end of January.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon has a host of drivers on his shortlist for next season.

However, Cadillac have just made a decision that should give Bottas a further boost to his hopes of making a Formula 1 comeback.

Photo by Alessio Morgese / Stefano Facchin/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Cadillac are no longer married to the idea of an American driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season

A report from the German outlet Auto Motor und Sport has shared more details about Cadillac’s plans leading up to next season.

Cadillac have set up a British base near Silverstone and are rapidly hoping to build up their workforce over the coming months.

There are suggestions that Cadillac are paying a premium to hire new staff, although many of them have gardening leave clauses in their current contracts that mean they can’t immediately get to work.

They’ve also got to compete with Sauber, who are opening a satellite facility in the area to help attract the best staff possible who aren’t willing to move to Switzerland or Audi’s German factory.

The report goes on to say that Cadillac hope to borrow a 2023 Ferrari to help them ‘simulate races’ as part of their testing of previous cars’ protocol.

This will allow them to start practising pit stops and other processes that make up a race weekend.

AMuS believe that Cadillac’s driver decision will be ‘resolved this summer’, and they think two experienced drivers are on their wishlist.

Felipe Drugovich is Cadillac’s chosen younger option should they go in that direction, but Cadillac have now decided they no longer need to hand one of their seats to an American.

Mario Andretti has been keen on Colton Herta racing for Cadillac, but he’s still not acquired enough superlicense points to race in Formula 1 next season.

Without the need for an American driver, Bottas has an even better chance of racing for Cadillac next season.

Valtteri Bottas jumps ahead of Sergio Perez in the race to sign for Cadillac

Cadillac don’t need to rush into any decision about their line-up for next season, given the current state of the driver market.

The vast majority of drivers on the grid are already tied down for 2026, and those who aren’t don’t appear to be rushing to join F1’s newest team.

It means the likes of Bottas and Sergio Perez are inevitably going to end up at the top of the team’s shortlist.

Unless Cadillac suddenly decide to dip into Formula 2 and make a play for championship leader and McLaren junior Alex Dunne or the unattached but very impressive Leonardo Fornaroli, the experienced pair will feel they’re in pole position for a return to the grid.

Bottas is said to be ahead of Perez in Cadillac’s thinking now, with Perez also potentially on Alpine’s shortlist.

Cadillac’s representatives are expected to be heading into discussions with agents at the upcoming British Grand Prix.

After Bottas gave his ‘honest answer’ about his talks with Cadillac, it’s up to Lowdon and senior staff at the American team to decide if he’s the experienced head that they need.