Valtteri Bottas' Cadillac test blocked by Mercedes

Bottas is currently reserve driver for Mercedes and will take up a new role with Cadillac - alongside Sergio Perez - for 2026 as one of the new team's full-time race drivers.

And Cadillac was hoping to be able to start working with Bottas, who made his F1 debut with Williams in 2013 and also drove for Alfa Romeo and Sauber, in the run-up to the new campaign by signing him up for some crucial test sessions.

Cadillac will join the grid for next year and are currently building the team's first F1 car, and setting up all processes for the coming season. Cadillac, who will use Ferrari power units before the team develops its own engine, will get some running in an old Ferrari F1 car.

However, Mercedes has announced that Bottas will remain connected to the German team during this season and therefore cannot drive for Cadillac. Reportedly, Bottas fully-agrees with his current employer's decision.

It is still unclear when and in what form Cadillac's test program will take place. GPblog understands that the American-owned team are undergoing a heavy process of recruiting and training staff. The F1 operation will be initially based at Silverstone while a new all-purpose facility is being built in the U.S.

While Bottas' availability is a blow, the team can call upon Perez, who is without a team since being released by Red Bull at the end of last season. Colton Herta, who will compete in F2 next season and dovetail the role with being Cadillac's reserve driver, could also deputise for Bottas in the test.