‘In my head, it should be okay’ – Valtteri Bottas offers update on Cadillac F1 future amid Colton Herta reports

Valtteri Bottas admits that his Cadillac Formula 1 future “should be okay” amid speculation that the Finn will not be retained by the American team next season.

Bottas returned to F1 after a season on the sidelines with Mercedes as part of Cadillac’s venture into the sport, with the 10-time Grand Prix winner partnering Sergio Perez to form one of the championship’s most experienced line-ups.

But while Perez’s future was confirmed ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix last weekend, Bottas has still yet to be confirmed despite initially signing a multi-year contract. That’s because the American squad are yet to commit to triggering an option in his contract that would keep him in the seat for 2027.

Ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, Bottas was asked about his future and whether he will be racing on the grid next season.

“In my head, it should be okay,” he said. “You know, that’s what I signed up for, for the long term. And, I haven’t heard anything other than that, so in my head, it should be all good.”

Speculation has grown that his spot in the team could be taken by reserve driver and IndyCar winner, Colton Herta. While the American 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 his Free Practice 1 sessions this year.

So far the American has made five FP1 appearances for Cadillac in a bid to gain enough Super Licence points to earn an F1 spot if one becomes available, with a sixth FP1 to come in Sao Paulo as he takes the place of Sergio Perez.

“It kind of makes sense for him because I understood that if he misses the Super Licence this year, then it’s going to be almost impossible to get it,” said Bottas.

“And as long as he gets it now, it’s going to be valid for a few years. So I’m pretty sure the team wants to have that just in case, not necessarily for next year. So that’s at least what I hope.

“But from my side, nothing has changed. The team has told me they don’t want to change anything. So that’s where we are.”

Bottas suffered a spectacular exit from the Grand Prix last weekend after the front-left suspension on his car failed, sending him into the barrier at Turn 1.

Having recovered from a bruised knee, Bottas claimed he still had full confidence in the team despite a spate of mechanical and reliability issues which means he has retired from nine Grands Prix so far this season.

“It’s never nice when that kind of thing happens on track,” he said. “It shouldn’t happen, but it happened.

“And the best thing we can do is to understand, find the cause, why it exactly happened and how to make sure that it never happens again.

“And I believe that is what we’ve done, so that’s why I will trust the car again when I get out there.”