Lewis Hamilton has opened up about his former partnership with Valtteri Bottas, saying he has missed the Finnish driver. This comes in response to the news that Bottas will be joining Cadillac for the 2026 season, partnering with Sergio Perez.
Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc, worked alongside Bottas at Mercedes between 2017 and 2021. Bottas was replaced by George Russell for the 2022 season, moving to Kick-Sauber for two seasons before returning to Mercedes as their reserve driver.
Lewis Hamilton thinks that Cadillac have made the right decision with their driver line-up
When speaking to F1, Hamilton expressed faith in Bottas’ return to the grid, applauding his former teammates talent on and off track.
He said, “I don’t need to say anything about his talent because he’s shown that throughout his career.
“They’re getting one of the most honest, probably the funniest Finn I would imagine, and just the most genuine person to work with. I miss working with him.”
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Bottas assisted Hamilton in winning four Drivers’ titles, and between them, they achieved five Constructors’ Championship wins for the German racing team. Hamilton has even claimed Bottas to be his best ever teammate to work with.
The seven-time World Champion also feels that Cadillac has chosen correctly in partnering Bottas and Perez for their debut season.
“I think they’ve chosen the right guys. Obviously, we’ll see with Sergio as well; he’s got great experience. That knowledge that they both bring from two great teams will help them progress faster.”
Between them, Bottas and Perez bring 16 race wins to the team, as well as 527 Grand Prix starts.
Max Verstappen also backs Cadillac’s choice to bring Perez and Bottas back to the grid
Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez’s former teammate at Red Bull, has also expressed his support for the Cadillac line-up.
He told the media, “When I saw the news come out, I sent a message to him. Of course, I’m very happy for him that he got a seat.
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“He’s a great guy and we always got along very well, so I’m happy to see him back on the grid. How he’s going to perform I think will also depend on how good the car is going to be, so it’s a bit difficult to say at the moment. But it’s a new opportunity and I’m sure he’s very excited for it.”
Verstappen raced alongside Perez at Red Bull between 2021 and 2024, winning two Constructors’ Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Will Hamilton and Verstappen be able to race against their former teammates in 2026, or will Cadillac still have some work to do?
