The Finn said the team told him that the reports about his possible dismissal are "completely false."
Valtteri Bottas has denied the rumors about his possible departure from Cadillac. The Finn said the American team told him that the reports about his dismissal are completely false and that he feels calm about his situation: "It's part of the sport; sometimes some headlines are not true, that's how things are, and especially now, with social media, people find out about everything quickly, and everything spreads. But the important thing is that I know the situation," declared Bottas.
The rumors began to circulate after the Canadian Grand Prix, when Sky Sports Italia reported that Cadillac was analyzing the possibility of replacing Bottas next season due to his disadvantage compared to his teammate Sergio Pérez. The name that was sounding strongest to replace him was Colton Herta, the American driver who competes in Formula 2 and is part of Cadillac's development program.
Bottas revealed that the team approached him immediately after the rumors became public: "Immediately after seeing the rumors, the team approached me and told me they are completely false and I also know what my situation is, so everything is fine. It's not something new in my career and every driver will go through this at some point, so for me there is no 'silly season'" said the Finn.
The 36-year-old driver, who has 10 victories in his Formula 1 career, was calm and confident about his continuity at Cadillac. Bottas has had a complicated start to the season with reliability issues that have prevented him from scoring points, but the team has shown its support for the Finn at all times.
Bottas also praised Colton Herta's work as Cadillac's reserve driver. The American has been working on the team's simulator and has helped in the car's development: "He helped us on the simulator; he's still learning in Formula 2, so he's a good addition for us," said Bottas.
The Finn highlighted that Herta's experience in IndyCar can be valuable for the team: "He has different perspectives due to his past, since he comes from a completely different category, with a different mindset and vision. That can help us" he concluded.
Cadillac is in its debut season in Formula 1 and the team has shown signs of progress in recent races. Valtteri Bottas trusts that the points will come sooner rather than later and that the team will continue to grow in the second half of the season.
Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 11th round of the 2026 championship and the last race before the summer break. Bottas and Pérez will seek to score the first points in Cadillac's history at the Hungaroring, a circuit that could better suit the MAC-26's characteristics.
Valtteri Bottas has Cadillac's confidence and the team's backing to move forward. With the experience accumulated and the support of the American structure, the Finn hopes that points will come soon. The future in F1 remains uncertain, but Bottas trusts in his ability to turn the situation around.
