Valtteri Bottas will link up with Sergio Perez in 2026 as he signs with Formula 1 newcomers Cadillac on a multi-year deal.
The Finn will return to full-time racing next year after he dropped off the grid at the end of 2024. Following his exit from Sauber, Bottas returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver, where he has helped to provide feedback to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Bottas had been linked with Cadillac for some time, with Toto Wolff actively pushing to get him back onto the grid. Sure enough, he will make his return in 2026 as he joins Perez at the American outfit on a deal until at least 2027.
Cadillac staff applauded the signings of Bottas and Perez at the Silverstone factory. The team had assessed numerous candidates for a potential seat, but ended up going for experienced heads instead of younger talent.
Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty ImagesValtteri Bottas will earn roughly up to £7.4 million per season at Cadillac
General Motors have put in heavy investment behind the scenes to get the team ready for their F1 debut. Cadillac have been ‘paying a premium’ to attract staff from rival teams – the drivers will certainly be on a decent salary as well.
According to F1 photographer Kym Illman, the Mercedes reserve driver will be on a similar wage to what he had at the Silver Arrows. ‘F1 people’ believe that he could earn between $8m (roughly £6m) and $10m (£7.4m) at Cadillac.
“For a start, only Valtteri’s team and Cadillac will know exactly what he’s getting paid. But when he was at Mercedes, he was believed to be on about $10 million a year” said Illman via his YouTube channel.
“The consensus amongst a number of F1 people that I spoke to suggests he’s probably [on] the same sort of range [at Cadillac], $8-10 million, plus bonuses for points and podiums.
“That would put him in the midfield when it comes to driver salaries.”
READ MORE: Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin
Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSome F1 key figures have doubts about Cadillac signing Valtteri Bottas
Mercedes need to finalise Bottas’ release so that he can begin working at Cadillac. The Finn is set to run in TPC tests in Ferrari machinery, who will supply F1’s 11th team with engines in 2026 and beyond.
He will be keen to return to form after a difficult spell at Sauber. Bottas failed to score points in 2024, while teammate Zhou Guanyu, who missed out on a Cadillac seat, grabbed four points in Qatar.
Damon Hill reacted to Bottas’ signing, writing on social media: “In Bottas we trust.” The 1996 F1 champion had previously criticised the Finn for taking a ‘spare part’ role at Mercedes, believing he had more to give in F1.
Ralf Schumacher is questioning Bottas’ race pace ahead of his F1 comeback, having not driven competitively since 2024. He left the sport on a low note, and he is determined to turn that around.