Andretti: Bottas and Perez 'a bit rusty' after year out, Cadillac facing downforce issues

Mario Andretti, a director for the new Cadillac F1 team, says drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are shaking off rust after a year away from full-time racing, with the team itself grappling with a lack of rear downforce and stability in its new car. The 1978 champion noted that while the driver adaptation and car development are challenges, they are issues shared by most teams outside the current top two.

Why it matters:

The candid assessment from a legend like Andretti highlights the real-world hurdles facing F1's newest constructor and its veteran driver pairing. For Cadillac, a successful entry hinges on quickly overcoming these early technical and human performance gaps to establish credibility and move up from the back of the grid.

The details:

• Andretti, on the Drive to Wynn podcast, stated Bottas and Perez are "just a little bit rusty" after both missed the 2025 season as full-time competitors.
• Bottas served as a reserve driver for Mercedes, while Perez sat out the year entirely after losing his Red Bull seat.
• The drivers are reportedly being cautious in testing to avoid mistakes that could set the team's preparation back.
• Technical Shortfall: The primary feedback from both drivers points to a car lacking downforce, with specific issues in rear-end stability.
• Power Unit Learning Curve: Andretti also pointed to the complexity of managing the new hybrid power unit, including battery charging strategies, as a key area for driver adaptation.
• A Common Struggle: He emphasized that the search for performance and understanding is not unique to Cadillac, suggesting most teams behind Mercedes and Ferrari are in a similar phase of deep development.

What's next:

The 2026 season will be a story of rapid adaptation and development.

• For Bottas and Perez, the focus is on regaining race sharpness and fully understanding the new car's limits and systems.
• For the Cadillac team, the immediate engineering challenge is to find downforce and stability to give its drivers a more predictable platform.
• Andretti predicts an "interesting progress of the season" as teams scramble to optimize their packages, which could lead to a volatile and evolving midfield battle.