Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas has confirmed that the Brackley outfit is not going to stand in his method ought to some early work come via for the Cadillac Method 1 group.
The Finnish driver is about to hitch former Pink Bull driver Sergio Perez on the American outfit for its debut 12 months within the championship in 2026.
Whereas Bottas is at the moment below contract with Mercedes as a reserve driver, he defined to Crash.internet that talks have already taken place between Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and Cadillac group principal Graeme Lowdon.
“There was talks. I believe Graeme [Lowdon, Cadillac team principal] and Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal and CEO], they have been in talks as properly,” Bottas defined.
“Mercedes has been actually supportive on the transition, so I do not suppose they are going to block me in any method.
“There’s been already discussions between me and Cadillac with on-line conferences and stuff like that, which I am allowed to do and that is fantastic.
“Everybody understands that there is loads of work to do and there is already some driver suggestions that they want for sure issues.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
Picture by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Community
“Clearly, I am going to begin with Cadillac in January, however there can be just a few issues I may do right here and there earlier than that.”
“I believe simulator stuff, I believe that’s one thing truly Mercedes and Cadillac are going to talk [about] this weekend. So I can let you understand later,” Bottas stated.
“However I’ve had a go to on the Silverstone facility already – simply had a fast look. Stuff like that. So yeah, I will be performing some stuff.”
After visiting Cadillac’s headquarters in Silverstone, Bottas was happy to see the progress that the group has already made.
“Yeah. I did not truly count on all the pieces to be that superior. However I suppose they began fairly some time in the past,” he continued.
“There’s clearly nonetheless numerous work to do however what I’ve seen to date has been spectacular and offers me extra confidence for the longer term.”
Cadillac will enter its debut season because the eleventh group on the F1 grid with an skilled driver line-up, however Lowdon is remaining sensible about his hopes for the group’s entry into the championship.
“If a brand new group had been to return in and instantly be aggressive in opposition to them, then you definately’d be fairly upset and fairly offended,” Lowdon informed F1.com. “And so, we all know it is an enormous problem. It’s extremely tough to quantify what success can appear to be apart from we simply should execute in addition to we probably can and acquire respect from the opposite opponents.
“I believe that is all the time the primary goal as a result of, if we do this, then we all know that we are going to be doing a great job.”
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