EXCLUSIVE: The reality about Valtteri Bottas’s viral Cadillac F1 seat teaser video

Valtteri Bottas has defined his considering behind the viral social media video teasing his transfer to Cadillac earlier than the deal was introduced.

The 36-year-old Finn has secured a full-time return to F1 subsequent season with the brand new Cadillac workforce, the place he’ll accomplice with fellow multiple-time grand prix winner Sergio Perez.

Cadillac made the announcement in August however Bottas had been tipped as a number one candidate for the workforce a lot earlier within the yr.

Bottas performed to the rumours and precipitated one thing of a stir on social media when he posted an intriguing video again in June.

The video confirmed Bottas coming throughout a Cadillac SUV on the road, earlier than he says: “That’s truly a pleasant seat, I wouldn’t thoughts.” It’s then identified to Bottas that there are “two seats”, which he notes are “each free.”

When invited to sit down in it by a voice off-camera, Bottas replies: “Not but.”

In an unique interview with Crash.web on the Singapore Grand Prix, Bottas stated that the aim of the teaser video was to “make folks discuss”.

Bottas additionally revealed he signed his contract with Cadillac in July, and did so earlier than Perez.

“That put up in June was simply to stir the pot mainly and make folks discuss, which was good. I feel it most likely woke them up as properly,” Bottas stated.

“Ultimately, I ended up signing later in July. Earlier this yr, I made it my precedence to get that seat and I needed to go there and so they appeared to actually need me. So it was truly actually simple.

“Once they had been prepared to start out signing drivers, I used to be the primary one to get it completed, which can be a superb feeling for me that they’ve respect for me and what I can deliver to the workforce.”

Why Alpine had been ‘by no means a severe possibility’

Bottas additionally emerged as a attainable candidate for a shock change to Alpine, both in 2025 or 2026, as a alternative for Franco Colapinto.

However other than holding some transient exploratory talks, Alpine had been by no means a “severe possibility” for Bottas, who at all times had his eyes set on Cadillac.

“It by no means was a severe possibility as a result of for me, clearly, the goal was Cadillac,” he defined.

“However in fact, we had discussions and even some small discussions about subsequent yr as a result of I discovered final yr that till you are signed, nothing is confirmed on this sport.

“So I had to take a look at all of the alternatives. However once more, I had my precedence fairly clear early on this yr and I saved that concentrate on and I’m glad it labored out.”