Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has backed Valtteri Bottas’s move to Cadillac in 2026, explaining that he misses working with the Finnish driver.
Hamilton raced alongside Bottas from 2017 to 2021 at Mercedes. Following his five-year stint at the Brackley outfit, Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo (now Sauber) in 2022, where he stayed until the end of the 2024 season. After leaving a full-time racing seat in the championship, Bottas returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver.
Cadillac F1, which is joining the series as the 11th team in 2026, recently announced its debut driver line-up of Bottas and former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez.
“I don’t need to say anything about his talent because he’s shown that throughout his career,” Hamilton explained when asked what he thought about the American team’s choice.
“But [they’re] getting one of the most honest, probably the funniest, Finns I would imagine, and just the most genuine person to work with. I miss working with him.
“I think they’ve chosen the right guys. Obviously, we’ll see with Sergio as well, he’s got great experience. That knowledge that they both bring from two great teams will help them progress faster.”
Bottas saw potential in the “long-term vision” of Cadillac, which will be led by team principal Graeme Lowdon.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
“From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded,” the former Mercedes driver said at the time of the announcement. “This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision.
“It’s not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.
“I’ve had the honour of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.
“This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me.
“I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step.”
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