Mario Andretti comments on Cadillac F1’s rumored lineup including Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas has been linked with a move to the Cadillac F1 team for months now. Rumors claim that the Finnish driver is set to join the newest F1 team for the 2026 season.

The latest reports have suggested that Bottas has agreed to a deal with the American team. Racing legend Mario Andretti has now come out and commented on the rumor.

The 2025 F1 season is past its halfway point, and the 2026 season is fast approaching. With the business end of the season coming thick and fast, teams are likely to confirm their lineup for next year. Amid this, the newest F1 team, Cadillac, has been talking to drivers and selecting its lineup for its debut season.

Rumors of Sergio Perez agreeing to a deal with Cadillac came out soon after the F1 summer break began. The Mexican driver had been linked with a move to the team for months before the latest reports suggested that he had already signed a deal, and an announcement around the same time will be made at the Italian GP.

Meanwhile, former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas recently uploaded a cryptic video on Instagram, hinting at a possible move to Cadillac for 2026. The latest reports have suggested that the Finnish driver has agreed to a deal that will be announced at the upcoming race weekend at Zaandvoort.

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Amid this, former F1 champion and a member of Cadillac's Board of Directors, Mario Andretti, was questioned about the reports of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas reportedly being confirmed as the team's lineup for its debut F1 season. Andretti replied,

“Just believe what we communicate,” he said via Blick.

Cadillac's bid to enter F1 with General Motors’ backing was approved by FIA earlier this year. Mario Andretti was soon signed by the team as a member of the Board of Directors and as an advisor.

Mercedes Boss pushes Valtteri Bottas for a full-time F1 return

Valtteri Bottas was Lewis Hamilton's teammate at Mercedes for five years before he was replaced by George Russell for the 2022 season. The Finnish driver drove for Alfa Romeo and Sauber between 2022-2024 and was left without a full-time seat for 2025 before Mercedes signed their former driver as a reserve.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently came out and pushed Valtteri Bottas for a full-time return amid the Cadillac rumors. Wolff said (via F1):

“He is a driver that, if some of our guys would have fish poisoning, you put him in the car and he’s going to be absolutely on [the] pace. That’s great to know, that your reserve and third driver is as quick as it gets. But obviously, with Valtteri, he deserves a race seat. Hopefully that door is going to open. Watch this space.”

Bottas has nearly 250 race starts in F1, and his experience could become a valuable asset for the newest team if he ends up signing with Cadillac.

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Pranay Bhagi is a motorsports journalist at Sportskeeda with over two years of experience in the industry. Having worked with respected platforms such as EssentiallySports and SportsRush, he has written nearly 2,000 articles covering the thrilling worlds of Formula 1 and NASCAR. Pranay’s knack for presenting unique angles and breaking down complex developments has established him as a reliable voice in the motorsports community.

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Edited by Pranay Bhagi