Bottas to Pilot Classic Ferrari at Adelaide Festival Ahead of F1 Return

title: Bottas to Pilot Classic Ferrari at Adelaide Festival Ahead of F1 Return

summary: Finnish champion Valtteri Bottas will drive Ferrari’s 156/85 Turbo at the Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival on March 1, ahead of his 2026 F1 return with Cadillac, blending heritage and star power.

content:

Bottas will trade modern F1 machinery for a turbo‑charged relic as he takes the wheel of Ferrari’s 156/85 at the Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival on March 1. The Finnish former champion, set to re‑enter the F1 grid with Cadillac, will drive Alboreto’s original #27 chassis through the historic streets that hosted the Australian Grand Prix in the mid‑80s.

Why it matters:

The demonstration bridges two eras – a current‑era driver piloting a car that defined Ferrari’s 1985 title chase. It offers fans a visceral link between the sport’s heritage and its future, while underscoring Bottas’s high‑profile return.

The details:

• Date & venue: Sunday, March 1, Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival, city streets.
• Car: Ferrari 156/85, chassis #27 – Michele Alboreto’s 1985 runner‑up, a turbo‑monster that nearly clinched the championship.
• Companion driver: Stefan Johansson will run Alboreto’s teammate, chassis #28, adding authenticity.

What's next:

The Adelaide showcase will be followed by a private test at Barcelona, then Bottas’s official debut with Cadillac at the Melbourne Grand Prix. The blend of nostalgia and star power signals a high‑octane start to his comeback, reminding the grid that past and future can roar together.

categories: Drivers, Event, Heritage