27/08/2025 09:15
Valtteri Bottas has revealed to already 'mentally preparing himself
for the worst' after signing up to the Cadillac F1 project. After a
year on the sidelines as third and reserve driver with Mercedes
this season following his release from Sauber at the end of last
year, Bottas joins forces at Cadillac with another exile in Sergio
Perez after the Mexican parted ways with Red Bull last season.
Although Cadillac has considerable backing from General Motors, and
will be supported by a power unit from Ferrari for the first two
years on the grid from next season before switching to its in-house
engine in 2028, all within the team are under no illusion that its
debut campaign will be tough. Bottas, who turns 36 on Thursday, has
stated that it was made clear from the outset by team principal
Graeme Lowdon of just how tough it will be as Cadillac tries to
find its feet in F1 as the sport's 11th team. Although he will
continue in his Mercedes role for the remainder of the year, the
mental reset button has been hit. "For me, it's a bit like when I
joined Alfa from Mercedes," said Bottas, speaking to selected
media, including RacingNews365, of his move to a mid-grid team from
the eight-time constructors' champions in 2022. "I kind of had to
reset the goal. "So I've kind of done that process already in my
head. As we've been speaking for a long time with Graeme, he's
always made sure that it's not going to be an easy road, that
probably the first year is going to be difficult, and I've signed
up for this. I know what to expect. "Mentally, if you always kind
of prepare for the worst, it's better, because whatever you then
achieve is going to be really positive and rewarding. "So just
being involved, getting my hands dirty with the team, once that
progress and success will come, that's the trigger for me, that's
going to do the thing for me and give me that reward. "It's all
about just managing the expectations, working hard, and the rewards
will come, and that's what I'm excited for. That's why I'm here."
Bottas facing 'a mountain of work' Bottas has further revealed that
he held talks with Lowdon about joining the team two years ago,
when he was with Sauber, and long before it was finally granted its
entry in March this year. It was only after that point that he was
able to realistically consider his options for the future before
finally putting pen to paper. "He [Lowdon] always kept in touch
with me on how things are going, progressing," said Bottas. "And
then, early on this year, it was clear to me that this is what I
want. I want to be part of this great brand, this, let's say,
start-up Formula 1 team, but with a great structure and big goals.
"I'm here to give everything I have to the team with Checo. We can
definitely guide it in the right direction, and, of course, we're
realistic. There's going to be a mountain of work to do, and it's
going to probably be a difficult start, because it is Formula 1.
"But we're not there to stay at the back. We don't want to finish
last. I believe with this structure, with this group, these people,
there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to get relatively
quickly up to the pace, and enjoy some success. "We [himself and
Perez] still have quite a few years left in the tank, so the goal
is to enjoy the success together, eventually, when we get there."
