Bottas refers to 'lottery' components in light of Cadillac's challenges.

      "It's somewhat unpredictable what type of parts will be received."

      Valtteri Bottas has hinted at quality and consistency problems within Formula 1's newest team, Cadillac, suggesting that the differences between the two cars might have impacted his challenging Japanese Grand Prix. The Finnish driver finished in 19th place at Suzuka, far behind his teammate Sergio Perez, and acknowledged that the performance fell short of expectations.

      "It was quite a tough race today. The pace wasn’t sufficient. It was slower than I had anticipated. We need to look into what caused it," Bottas stated after the race. He suggested that the issue might not be solely related to the setup.

      "There was a significant discrepancy between the cars within the team. My car was sliding more, and I just couldn’t maintain the same speed in the corners," Bottas told Viaplay. "There’s a lack of consistency in the parts and the cars."

      He further implied that the distribution of components is not yet fully managed in the new team. "It’s a bit of a lottery regarding what kind of parts will come. We need to analyze the situation," he said to Viaplay.

      Cadillac, in its inaugural season, has already admitted that development will require time, and Bottas believes that the upcoming break in April could be pivotal. "It's beneficial for us that there's a short break. We will have the opportunity to develop the car," he remarked.