Cadillac is languishing at the foot of Formula 1’s Constructors’ Championship, but Valtteri Bottas believes his new employer has already outdone his former Mercedes team in one unexpected department: its facilities.
The Finn spent five seasons with the Brackley squad between 2017 and 2021, witnessing first-hand the infrastructure behind one of F1’s most successful operations.
His assessment of Cadillac’s new home at Silverstone is therefore a striking endorsement for a newcomer still struggling to make its mark on the track. Nevertheless, Bottas believes the foundations being built behind the scenes offer reasons for optimism.
Cadillac’s factory impresses its drivers
In the future, Cadillac plans to operate on both sides of the Atlantic, with its 2026 programme running from a facility at Silverstone while construction of a new US base continues.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Bottas was asked whether Cadillac’s facilities were better than Mercedes’ set-up, and he offered a remarkably direct response.
“I would say so,” the F1 veteran replied.
Needless to say, that’s a considerable – and surprising – compliment from a driver so familiar with Mercedes’ championship-winning operation.
But Bottas isn’t alone in his enthusiasm. Team-mate Sergio Perez has also been similarly impressed with Cadillac’s Silverstone factory.
“We were at the factory, and it’s very impressive. I’ve never seen a factory like this in my career. It’s really, really impressive,” the Mexican said.
“It was really nice to see it. We had talks with the engineers, with all the people involved in the project, the plans and stuff. It was nice to catch up with everyone.
“First of all, it’s because everything is new: the equipment they have, the platforms, how nicely it is connected, all the different departments. It’s like a new home, very well organised. It was really good to see.”
The appeal of a fresh operation is clear: modern equipment, interconnected departments and a carefully organised working environment provide Cadillac with a solid platform.
But turning those assets into competitive lap times is another matter entirely.
Results remain elusive, but Bottas sees progress
Cadillac’s debut season has exposed the enormous challenge of establishing a competitive F1 team from scratch. The priority now is to eliminate operational problems and give its engineers more time to concentrate on improving the car.
Bottas insists progress is happening, even if the results have yet to reflect it.
“We are definitely seeing an improvement somewhere every weekend,” the Finn added. “It’s not necessarily in the results yet, but it’s in how we operate as a team in different areas.
“Once you have issues, whether it’s in practice or qualifying, that’s when you can’t improve. You’re just trying to fix the issues instead of focusing on performance and making the car faster.
“The main thing is trying to get the most out of myself and trying to be the best version of myself that I can. It’s the same with the people around me. I’m trying to make sure they are getting the most out of themselves and giving everything they have. In the end, that’s all we can do.”
For now, Cadillac’s impressive infrastructure offers little consolation for its position at the bottom of the standings. But Bottas’ comparison with Mercedes suggests the team believes it has built a strong foundation.
The real test will be whether Cadillac can turn its impressive surroundings into something far more valuable: performance and results on track.
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