Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas is hoping that his Formula 1 career didn’t end with a pointless season at Sauber last year.

Valtteri Bottas has 10 wins, 20 pole positions, 67 podiums and 1797 points to his name during an F1 career that’s spanned more than a decade.

However, in 2024, Bottas was the only driver to take part in every race and fail to score a point in the drivers’ championship.

It led to Sauber going in a different direction with their driver line-up this season, hiring Nico Hulkenberg and Zhou Guanyu.

Mercedes picked up the 35-year-old as their reserve driver, and Bottas has been working closely with Andrea Kimi Antonelli this season.

However, Bottas is now aiming to race against the Italian teenager next season.

Cadillac are joining the Formula 1 grid next season and have yet to decide on their two drivers for 2026.

Bottas has been heavily linked with Cadillac, and the happy-go-lucky Finn has now commented on the rumours.

Photo by Paddocker/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Valtteri Bottas gives his ‘honest answer’ on whether he’s racing for Cadillac next season

Bottas was asked by Guenther Steiner on The Red Flags Podcast whether he’s going to be racing for Cadillac next year and said: “Honest answer is, I don’t know.

“Of course, we’re speaking, I think they’re speaking to many drivers, and for me it would be very interesting, so time will tell.”

Steiner replied: “I’m asked a lot of times what I would do if I were running Cadillac?

“I said I would put two experienced drivers in it because I think for a new team, that’s the most important thing, to have somebody experienced who can tell you if you are wrong or if you’re not where you think you are.

“To tell you how it is, how it should be, because the driver knows if the car doesn’t work, if the team doesn’t work.

“That’s why I always suggest that I would take Checo [Perez] and you.

“But then I always have to say I could never afford Checo and you, because you guys always were too expensive for me, but Cadillac has loads of money, so for sure they can afford you.”

Bottas simply replied: “In theory, they should have the money, so let’s see.”

Who could join Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac in 2026 if Graeme Lowdon signs Mercedes’ reserve driver?

Bottas would be a very solid signing for Cadillac with his experience proving vital, as Steiner explained.

Sergio Perez is an option for Cadillac as well after his Red Bull exit, but a deal with the Mexican doesn’t appear to be close.

There are also a handful of less experienced drivers that team principal Graeme Lowdon is considering.

Lowdon manages Zhou Guanyu, who is an option for Cadillac, although there has been far less fanfare surrounding a return to the grid for the Chinese driver.

Felipe Drugovich is in Cadillac’s thoughts after years spent on the sidelines waiting for his opportunity at Aston Martin.

It won’t be long until the American outfit have to commit to the first two drivers in their Formula 1 history, and Bottas must hope he’s one of them.