Valtteri Bottas signed a multi-year deal with Cadillac to return to the grid this season after a year on the sidelines as Mercedes’ third driver. However, it has emerged that the team have yet to commit to triggering an option in his contract that would keep him in the seat for 2027.
Bottas hasn’t had the best of luck in his comeback year, with the Finn pulling off the track with a suspected power unit issue last time out in Austin to record his eighth retirement of the season – only Aston Martin‘s Lance Stroll has more DNFs (11).
That hasn’t made it easy for Bottas to show his speed and, overall, his experienced team mate Sergio Perez has had the edge when it comes to the numbers, with the Mexican announced to continue with Cadillac from 2027 onwards.
There is a caveat, with Cadillac often running different approaches and strategies across their two cars to accelerate their learning. But based on the available numbers, Perez comes out on top.
It’s pretty close in Qualifying, with Perez edging Bottas 10-8, but in races where both have finished, Perez has come out ahead 6-1. He has also set the fastest of the team’s laps at 14 Grands Prix compared with three for Bottas.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that Cadillac have prioritised locking down Perez not just for next year but for the foreseeable future before turning their attention to the second seat. So, what is their thinking now?
It is believed the team are happy with the job Bottas has done, particularly the way he has galvanised the team and articulated his feedback about the car.
But with Cadillac now knowing what Perez is capable of, and confident they have a high-performing, experienced driver in one seat, they are assessing whether to break from their initial strategy of prioritising experience and instead mix things up.
They have never made a secret of their desire to run an American driver at some stage but have always insisted any signing would be based on merit.
Colton Herta is on their books as a test driver and, while he has struggled to make an impact in F2 and sits 19th in the standings, he has impressed the team when behind the wheel of a Cadillac during four FP1 sessions this year.
He hasn’t yet accrued enough points for a super licence, but he is on the brink and needs just one more point, which he can secure by completing at least 100km of running in another FP1 session. Sources say he’ll be in the car for first practice in Mexico to get that final point.
With that in mind, Cadillac have the option of putting Herta in the car next year should they decide not to continue with Bottas. But with essentially every other line-up bar Racing Bulls settled, they are in no rush to decide.
It is understood Esteban Ocon is hoping there might be an opportunity to step in after parting ways with Haas, while Red Bull reserve Yuki Tsunoda has also been linked with the seat – though both are considered outsiders.
At this stage, Bottas remains favourite to stay with Cadillac for 2027, but Herta is firmly in contention to replace him. Watch this space.
