How Perez, Bottas will fight “desperation” at back of F1 grid with Cadillac

Two Formula 1 race winners – a Latin and a Finn – joining a new team? This is not unprecedented, and the last time it happened, the outcome was far from optimal.

Sixteen years ago, Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen signed with the new Lotus outfit for the 2010 season; however the promised budget cap never materialised, Lotus was accepted as a 2010 entrant as late as September 2009 (just imagine if Cadillac was still unsure about next year!), and the squad spent most of its short-lived existence among other backmarkers, with both veterans eventually replaced by well-backed youngsters.

Everything points to things being different for Cadillac and drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. General Motors has been working on this project for years, presumably investing the necessary budget for a degree of success – as shown by its “bold signal of intent”, i.e. hiring a duo that can boast a combined 23 pole positions, 16 wins and 106 podium finishes.

Equally, F1 is now more competitive than it has ever been, and Cadillac may struggle to score points consistently from the get-go. So how will its drivers avoid ending up demoralised after a few Q1 exits? The foundations that are being laid for the future are giving them the hope they need.

“I’m sure that we’re going to start in a very difficult position,” Perez admitted, “but to me, it’s not where we start, it’s how quickly we manage to progress. That’s the main thing.

“I know racing drivers can get desperate. Once you are in the grid for 24 races and you are fighting at the back, desperation can come. But to me, the main thing I’m here for is to make progress together with the team and to enjoy the ride.

“Because… at this point of my career, one trophy more, one less, it’s irrelevant. I want to be able to enjoy the ride, but also just give my very best every single weekend. If I’m able to do that for 24 weekends, I’ll be pretty happy.”

Perez is no stranger to racing in the midfield, which he did for 10 years with Sauber, McLaren and Force India/Racing Point, but this may be the first time he actually ends up at the back of the grid, following the end of his Red Bull stint.

Meanwhile, Bottas has already experienced a ‘fall from grace’ when he lost his Mercedes seat to George Russell ahead of the 2022 season, ending up at the other end of the pitlane with Alfa Romeo/Sauber. In his last 50 races at the Hinwil-based squad, the Finn’s highest finish was a modest eighth, so he knows what it’s like to temper expectations.

“For me, it’s a bit like when I joined from Mercedes-Benz to Alfa, I kind of had to reset the goal,” Bottas explained. “So I’ve done that process already in my head.

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“As we’ve been speaking for a long time with Graeme [Lowdon, team principal], he’s always made sure that it’s not going to be an easy road. Probably the first year is going to be difficult.

“I’ve signed up for this. I know what to expect. Always mentally, if you kind of prepare for the worst, it’s better, because then whatever you achieve, that’s going to be really positive and rewarding. So for me, again, just being involved, getting my hands dirty with the team. Once that progress and success will come, that’s the trigger for me. That’s going to do the thing for me and give me that reward.”

Bottas did admit Cadillac’s early days in F1 were going to be both “a mountain of work” and “a difficult start”, but equally displayed bullishness regarding the future.

“We’re not there to stay at the back,” he insisted. “We don’t want to finish last. And I believe with this structure, with this group, these people, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get relatively quickly up to the pace and, that way, enjoy some success.

“And we still have quite a few years left in the tank with Checo, I think, so the goal is to enjoy the success together eventually when we get there.”

Admittedly, “we’re not there to stay at the back” was also proclaimed by many other new F1 teams. But to be fair, in Cadillac’s case, there are better reasons to believe it; now they just need to deliver.