Overview

• Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the team will part ways with reserve driver Valtteri Bottas at year-end following his 2026 deal with Cadillac.
• Valtteri Bottas confirmed he held talks with Alpine but chose Cadillac for a multi-year project he described as a rare chance to help build a team from scratch.
• Reactions split across the paddock, with Helmut Marko calling the choice conservative while Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and others praised the value of experience.
• Cadillac plans to start as a Ferrari power-unit customer in 2026 while GM develops its own engine for a later introduction, with a targeted debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
• Pundits questioned whether Perez and Bottas can provide clear team leadership, even as analysts noted their feedback and familiarity with top operations could reduce early unknowns.