Valtteri Bottas denies early exit rumors from Cadillac F1 team

Bottas Dismisses Cadillac Seat Rumors Amid Tough Start to 2026

Valtteri Bottas has firmly rejected speculation that his place at the Cadillac Formula 1 team is under threat, following a challenging opening to the 2026 season.

"The rumors are unsubstantiated," Bottas stated, referencing reports that his seat could be in jeopardy. "The team continues to support me."

The speculation arose after the first five races, during which Bottas was outqualified by teammate Sergio Perez in four of those events, including sprints. Cadillac has yet to score a single point this season.

Despite the difficult start, Bottas remains confident. The Finnish driver acknowledged that performance issues—linked to the power unit and car assembly—have hindered results, but he expressed optimism that the team has identified the root causes.

Signed to a two-year contract, Bottas is adamant that the internal narrative differs from the external noise.

• Cadillac has not scored any points in the 2026 season so far.
• Perez has outperformed Bottas in qualifying for four of the first five race weekends (including sprints).
• Bottas insists the team supports him, and that external rumors do not reflect the team's internal confidence.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Cadillac can translate its diagnosed issues into on-track improvement—and whether Bottas can close the gap to his teammate.