Valtteri Bottas says Cadillac has made positive its drivers are beneath no illusions over how arduous the latest System 1 group’s early years within the sport will probably be.
Cadillac will be part of the grid in 2026 and this week confirmed Bottas and Sergio Perez will kind its first driver line-up, choosing an skilled pairing to assist with the group’s growth. Bottas is at the moment reserve driver at Mercedes and has 10 wins to his title, however says the totally different problem of serving to such a giant group begin from scratch was attractive sufficient to abdomen probably being in the back of the grid initially.
“For me, it’s kind of like after I joined from Mercedes to Alfa – I type of needed to reset the objectives,” Bottas stated. “I’ve type of achieved that course of already in my head and for this one, as we have been talking for a very long time with Graeme [Lowdon, team principal], he is at all times made positive that it isn’t going to be a straightforward highway, for the primary 12 months, it will be troublesome.
“I’ve signed up for this – I do know what to anticipate. All the time mentally, if you happen to put together for the worst, it is higher, as a result of then no matter you obtain, that is going to be actually optimistic and rewarding. So for me simply being concerned, getting my arms soiled with the group, as soon as that progress and success will come, that is the set off for me. That is going to do the factor for me and provides me that reward.
“It is all about simply managing the expectations and dealing arduous, and the rewards will come. That is what I am excited for and that is why I am right here.
“And for me and Checo, it is a actually distinctive alternative. Not many individuals have achieved this within the historical past of F1, to be a part of a brand new group with this construction and this backing. It is thrilling.”
Bottas additionally says he has been in discussions over becoming a member of Cadillac for a variety of years and believes he and Perez will be racing in aggressive equipment quickly sufficient, regardless of each turning 36 earlier than the beginning of subsequent season.
“Truly, the primary talks we had with Graeme about this chance was about two years in the past now, and he is at all times stored me in contact on how issues are going and progressing,” Bottas stated. “After which, early on this 12 months, it was clear for me that that is what I would like. I need to be a part of this nice model, this, as an example, start-up System 1 group, however with nice construction and large objectives. And I am right here to offer every little thing I’ve to the group.
“With Checo, we are able to undoubtedly information to the correct course. In fact, we’re real looking. It’ll be a mountain of labor to do, and it will most likely be a troublesome begin, as a result of it’s System 1. However we’re not there to remain on the again. We do not need to end final.
“I consider with this construction, with this group, these folks, there is not any purpose why we should not have the ability to get comparatively shortly as much as the tempo and that manner get pleasure from some success. And we nonetheless have fairly just a few years left within the tank with Checo, I believe, so the aim is to benefit from the success collectively ultimately once we get there.”
