🇫🇮 Finnish · Cadillac
Valtteri Bottas
Ten-time race winner and former Mercedes driver who spent 2025 as a reserve. He returns to a race seat with the new Cadillac team for 2026 alongside Sergio Pérez.
77The story
Valtteri Bottas, born in Nastola, Finland in 1989, made his Formula 1 debut with Williams in 2013 and quickly became a podium contender for the famous British team. A move to Mercedes in 2017 placed him at the heart of the sport’s dominant era.
Across five seasons with Mercedes he won ten Grands Prix, took twenty pole positions and finished championship runner-up in 2019 and 2020, playing a pivotal supporting role to Lewis Hamilton. He moved to the Alfa Romeo and Sauber team in 2022 for a fresh challenge before a year as Mercedes reserve in 2025.
In 2026 the experienced Finn returns to a race seat with the new Cadillac team, partnering Sergio Pérez as the operation finds its feet.
- 2013 – 2016WilliamsRose from rookie to regular podium-finisher with the resurgent team.
- 2017 – 2021MercedesTen wins and two runner-up championships during the team’s years of dominance.
- 2022 – 2024Alfa Romeo / SauberA new leadership role with the Swiss team.
- 2025Mercedes (reserve)A season as test and reserve driver before returning to racing.
- 2026 – presentCadillacBack on the grid with the new American manufacturer alongside Sergio Pérez.