Valtteri Bottas has returned to the forefront in the world of Formula 1, and he has done so with humor in his first press conference of the 2026 season. The Cadillac Racing driver did not miss the opportunity to poke fun at his former rival, the Aston Martin team, pointing to its drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, as potential title contenders.
Bottas’s dry humor surprised those present, after a year in which he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes. Now, with the accumulated experience and his return to the grid with Cadillac, he has caught the attention of fans.
In a recent testing session, Bottas was asked about his favorites for the championship. “If I have to make a prediction, I’ll say Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso,” he said with laughter. “And also [George Russell], because I heard they said they would beat us in the end in Abu Dhabi.”
Aston Martin, which arrives at the Australian Grand Prix as the weakest team, has announced it will limit the number of laps its drivers can take during the competition. This decision is due to intense vibrations caused by the Honda engine, which have worried the team.
Adrian Newey, the team’s designer, explained that they have managed to reduce vibrations through self-sufficient work in dynamics, but that the main problem comes from the engine, which can also cause damage to the chassis. “The chassis is an extremely rigid carbon structure, and we haven’t been able to completely control this transfer of vibrations,” Newey stated.
This situation has led the team to restrict the performance of its drivers in order to protect their health and avoid further damage during the race. While other teams, like Mercedes with Russell at the forefront, seem to be in better shape for this new season, Aston Martin faces significant challenges.
