Bottas talks up Cadillac: 'Interesting project'

Valtteri Bottas has talked up a imaginable determination to Cadillac adjacent season, saying the caller Formula 1 squad correspond an "interesting project."

The American outfit volition debut arsenic F1's 11th squad connected the grid adjacent play and squad main Graeme Lowdon admitted earlier this twelvemonth that determination were astatine slightest six drivers shortlisted for its 2 seats. Sources person told ESPN that Sergio Pérez remains precocious connected the database for Cadillac.

Another erstwhile operator appears to person thrown his chapeau successful the ring, with Bottas -- Lewis Hamilton's ex-teammate and present a Mercedes reserve -- telling F1's Beyond the Grid podcast that helium is "not done yet" successful F1 and that Cadillac are an option.

"I don't deliberation they're successful a monolithic rush," Bottas said, referring to Cadillac's operator lineup choices. "They've been very, precise engaged connected trying to get a car connected the grid for adjacent year.

"I cognize my timeline, erstwhile I privation to cognize astir adjacent twelvemonth and what plans bash I request to make, which I think, August, much oregon less, is simply a beauteous bully people for that. But hopefully we'll perceive thing much soon.

"I deliberation they person a fewer drivers connected the list. I would ideate my acquisition volition assistance due to the fact that present I've raced successful 3 antithetic teams, with 1 of the teams [that] had mega success. With Williams arsenic well, [we] had immoderate large results, truthful I anticipation I'm successful a bully position.

"For me, I really spot a precise absorbing project, thing caller to F1, an American squad with possibly a antithetic presumption to the sport. If I would beryllium determination arsenic a driver, it would beryllium really precise absorbing due to the fact that you tin commencement from scratch.

"The squad starts from zero. You could really marque a large power connected definite things, which absorption to go, and that would beryllium precise motivating and rewarding erstwhile the occurrence comes.

"I deliberation the regularisation alteration is ever a bully constituent to leap successful due to the fact that you conscionable ne'er know, if you abruptly get it close you mightiness really beryllium doing truly good from the get-go."

Bottas is simply a 10-time contention victor successful F1 and helped Mercedes to 5 consecutive constructors' titles from 2017 to 2021. The Finnish operator was near without a spot this year, however, aft Sauber fto him go.

"I decidedly inactive consciousness -- and that emotion was rather speedy aft I knew I wouldn't get a spot for this twelvemonth -- that I'm not done yet with F1," Bottas added.

"I inactive person much to give. It's inactive [the] fig 1 happening successful my life. That sensation, present that I've been watching aside, has got stronger and stronger and stronger, and present I truly commencement to miss racing."