Bottas claims he has a 'ticket' for Cadillac in 2027.

      Valtteri Bottas has once again dismissed rumors suggesting that Colton Herta might take his place at Cadillac next season, asserting that his seat for 2027 is already secure. The Finnish driver, who will turn 37 between Zandvoort and Monza, stated in an interview with Ilta-Sanomat that age isn't a concern for him. "This is an excellent age to continue my career," remarked the former Mercedes driver. "At no point has it seemed like anything has deteriorated. My physical condition is good, and I gain more experience each year. My reaction times remain consistent with when I first started driving." "Nothing has deteriorated."

      When questioned about his future, Bottas was straightforward. "I have a contract for next season, and my focus will be entirely on continuing here," he replied. This comes in light of ongoing speculation that Herta, who is currently acquiring super license points in Formula 2, may be elevated to a role for 2027.

      Bottas also provided a candid evaluation of Cadillac’s competitive standing during a debut season that has yet to yield points. When asked what the team could achieve if the car functioned properly and reliability issues were resolved, he stated: "We wouldn’t be able to score points yet, as there is still a gap to the competitors." "In regular races, we might currently finish around 18th to 20th place. That’s our current position." "We need to improve our reliability to ensure we can finish every race."

      Bottas also expressed surprise at Graeme Lowdon’s abrupt departure, with Marcin Budkowski already taking over as team principal. "It was indeed a surprise in the middle of the season," Bottas admitted. "I would say such a change reflects a certain American approach. When something needs to change, it happens quickly." "Time will tell how the new guy performs in his role."