Toto Wolff Backs Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac Move: 'He Will Shine'

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has openly thrown his full support behind Valtteri Bottas as the reserve driver prepares for his move to Cadillac in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Wolff emphasized that Mercedes will not impede Bottas's preparations for this exciting new chapter, confidently stating, "He will shine."

Bottas, who lost his seat with Kick Sauber at the end of last year, has been attending race weekends as a reserve driver for Mercedes this season. He is set to make a highly anticipated return to the Formula 1 grid with the new Cadillac venture, where he will race alongside Sergio Perez.

Reflecting on Bottas's tenure with Mercedes, where he spent five seasons and secured 10 Grand Prix victories, Wolff acknowledged the unique challenge Bottas faced. "Valtteri had the fortune and misfortune to go against Lewis Hamilton as a team mate at the peak of his game," Wolff commented. Despite this formidable comparison, Wolff's high regard for Bottas's capabilities remains clear. "Valtteri has tremendous speed and is one of the best drivers on the grid."

Wolff further highlighted Bottas's consistent performance since departing Mercedes to make way for George Russell, noting that Bottas has since outperformed every teammate he has had. His confidence in Bottas's abilities extends to his role as a potential stand-in for Mercedes, should the need arise.

"If one of our drivers were to have fish poisoning, we know [we can] put someone in the car that can be as fast and competitive. There would be no compromise putting Valtteri in the car on a given Saturday and Sunday," Wolff affirmed, underscoring Bottas's readiness and skill.

While acknowledging that Bottas's eventual departure will leave a void within the Mercedes reserve driver ranks, Wolff expressed genuine happiness for his return to the competitive grid with what promises to be an exciting and significant new project in Formula 1.