Driver Valtteri Bottas has shown an optimistic spirit after the qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix, highlighting that his Cadillac felt “like a different car” compared to the previous races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
In this fourth race of the season, Cadillac has brought several improvements to its MAC-26 model, which seem to have contributed to a better driving experience for Bottas. However, the team is still seeking its first points, being one of the few teams that have not scored so far in the championship.
Although Cadillac has typically been between two to four seconds at the back in qualifying sessions, Bottas was able to perceive significant progress in the vehicle’s performance, finishing qualifying in 20th position, 2.976 seconds off the best time. Additionally, he will start 19th as a result of a rival’s disqualification.
According to Bottas, “some things were not working as they should” in the previous session, but with the current improvements, he has noticed a positive change in the car’s balance. “After these modifications, I gained better grip at the rear, which made the car more manageable and took me a while to adapt,” commented the driver.
Despite the advances, Bottas acknowledges that the team still needs to adapt and better understand certain aspects of the car. “We are progressing step by step, but there is still much to learn,” he stated with a hopeful spirit.
Additionally, his teammate, Sergio Pérez, also expressed frustration with his personal performance during qualifying, noting that he made mistakes that prevented him from achieving a better result. “I made errors with the car setup, which affected both of us, and I think we could have been closer to Aston Martin,” he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
