Valtteri Bottas, currently a reserve driver for Mercedes, will take part in the Monsterrando cycling race this weekend in Italy. This announcement comes as the Finnish driver is reportedly close to securing a seat with the new Cadillac Formula 1 team for the 2026 season, aiming for a full return to F1 after missing out on a 2025 race seat.
After Sauber chose Gabriel Bortoleto to race alongside Nico Hulkenberg for their transition to the Audi F1 brand in 2025, Bottas found himself without a permanent F1 drive. Instead, he returned to Mercedes, where he previously earned all ten of his F1 wins between 2017 and 2021. The 35-year-old driver has openly expressed his goal to rejoin the grid next year, positioning himself as a leading contender to join Cadillac’s debut team.
Bottas Approaches Confirmed Role with Cadillac F1 Team for 2026
According to a recent report by PlanetF1.com, Bottas is finalizing terms with Cadillac to compete in Formula 1 starting in 2026. The deal is nearing completion, and if confirmed, Bottas will be paired with Sergio Perez, a seasoned driver previously with Red Bull. Perez’s signing is expected to be officially announced at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza next month, establishing an experienced driver pairing for Cadillac’s maiden F1 entry.
While the F1 2025 season continues, Bottas is staying active in competitive sports through cycling. Alongside his long-time partner Tiffany Cromwell, a professional cyclist and multiple gravel race champion, he will pedal in Italy’s Monsterrando event on August 23. The race organizers highlighted their participation on social media by dubbing them
“the world’s most famous gravel couple.”
Cromwell boasts a strong 2025 season with several victories, including the Unbound 100 and Australian Gravel Championship, while Bottas himself finished third at the Australian Gravel Championship this year.
He’s an avid gravel cyclist who has already participated in the 2024 World Finals and this year boasts a 3rd place finish at the Australian Gravel Championship.
—Monsterrando Official Account
Anticipated Grid Penalty Awaits Bottas on His F1 Comeback
Bottas’s probable return to Formula 1 will come with a challenge. At the end of the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Bottas was given a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen while driving for Sauber. Although new sporting regulations introduced for 2026 state that penalties not served within 12 months will be wiped from a driver’s record, Bottas will still need to serve this penalty because it was assigned before the rule change.
An FIA spokesperson explained the situation:
Currently, the penalty will stand as there is no mechanism to retroactively amend the penalty that was applied under the regulations in force at the time.
The change of regulation is intended to avoid similar anomalous situations in the future.
As a result, Bottas is expected to serve the grid drop during his debut race with Cadillac, most likely at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. This development adds complexity to his anticipated return but will not overshadow the excitement around Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 with two experienced drivers.
Implications of Bottas’s Return and Cadillac’s Entry into F1
Valtteri Bottas’s return to Formula 1 through Cadillac carries significance for multiple stakeholders. For Bottas, it offers a chance to reclaim a place in top-tier motorsport following a year without a race seat. For Cadillac, his signing alongside Sergio Perez lends the team added credibility and experience, which could be crucial for their competitive launch in the 2026 season. Observers will keenly watch how both drivers adapt to the demands of a fresh F1 outfit amid evolving regulations and intensifying competition.
Meanwhile, Bottas’s ongoing involvement in cycling, including notable performances in gravel races, highlights his continued athletic commitment beyond racing. This dual focus underscores his resilience and versatility as a professional athlete navigating career transitions.