Bottas encouraged by Cadillac's 'different car' feel in Miami

Valtteri Bottas expressed optimism after Miami Grand Prix qualifying, stating his upgraded Cadillac felt "like a different car" despite still qualifying near the back of the grid. The American team brought nine upgrades to its home race, resulting in a more competitive gap to rivals, though it remains one of two teams yet to score a point in the 2026 season.

Why it matters:

For a new constructor like Cadillac, tangible progress in car feel and performance is crucial for morale and long-term development, even if immediate results aren't yet in the points. Closing the gap to the midfield, even by a few tenths, validates the team's development path and provides a much-needed baseline for future upgrades in a challenging debut season.

The details:

• Qualifying Result: Bottas qualified 20th, 2.976 seconds off the pace in Q1, but will start 19th due to a rival's penalty.
• The Upgrade Package: Cadillac introduced nine new parts for the Miami GP, its first home race, which directly improved the car's balance and rear grip according to Bottas.
• Driver Feedback: Bottas noted the car was "a lot better" and that he was "struggling a little bit with the balance... in a positive way" due to the newfound grip, a sign of a significant change in characteristics.
• Teammate's Perspective: Sergio Perez, who qualified behind Bottas, believed a clean lap could have put them close to or ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, suggesting the raw potential of the upgrades was higher than the final grid position showed.
• The Reality Check: Despite the improved feeling, Bottas acknowledged that grid "positions are still the same" and the team is still in the process of fully understanding the car and its new parts.

What's next:

The immediate focus shifts to the Miami Grand Prix, where the team will learn if its upgraded car can translate its better qualifying feel into improved race pace and tire management. The larger task remains systematically analyzing the data from this significant upgrade package to guide development for the upcoming European leg of the season, with the ultimate goal of finally breaking into the points.