Overview
- Mercedes granted an immediate release after Abu Dhabi, allowing Valtteri Bottas to start with Cadillac this week with a seat fitting and factory meetings at Silverstone.
- The team shared videos and images of Bottas’ cockpit fit, marking his first official appearance for the new entry.
- Cadillac plans to fire up its first F1 car before Christmas, conduct a January shakedown and participate in the 26–30 January pre-season test in Barcelona.
- Team principal Graeme Lowdon said Bottas was chosen for consistent qualifying pace, car-development expertise and a steadying influence for a start-up squad.
- Sergio Pérez recently completed operational running in a borrowed Ferrari SF-23 at Imola, and one outlet reports Bottas could face a five-place grid drop on his debut stemming from a 2024 penalty.