Bottas’ pitlane error exposes Cadillac’s ongoing teething troubles

Valtteri Bottas’ Miami Grand Prix unraveled after a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane — caused by not pressing the pit-limiter button hard enough. The mistake, rooted in a known issue with steering wheel controls, offered an awkward glimpse into Cadillac’s steep learning curve as Formula 1’s newest team.

Why it matters:

Cadillac arrived at its home race with a promising upgrade package — revised front wing and reshaped floor — that closed the gap to midfield rivals like Aston Martin. But the operational inconsistency exposed by Bottas’ error underscores how hardware and process immaturity can undermine even solid performance gains.

The details:

• Bottas explained the steering wheel buttons lack proper feedback; improved components from the supplier are expected for the next race.
• “I pressed the pit limiter button, but apparently not hard enough,” he said. “It's been a known issue, we just haven't got the new buttons yet.”
• The upgrades worked, Bottas confirmed, but the team struggles with quality control: “Not every part is the same that we put in the car … it's getting better.”
• Team principal Graeme Lowdon acknowledged the difficulty of ramping up processes from scratch: “We're not there yet, but we will get there.”
• Lowdon praised the maturity of Bottas and teammate Sergio Pérez, who balance pushing the team without creating negative pressure.

What’s next:

Cadillac leaves Miami with both promise and perspective. Performance gains are real, but details matter in F1 — and tiny imperfections become public problems. The team expects new buttons for the next race, and with continued process improvements, the gap between potential and execution should narrow as the season progresses.