Cadillac F1 driver Valtteri Bottas suffers engine failure in Austin

Valtteri Bottas was forced to retire from the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas due to a sudden technical issue. The Cadillac driver reported that the problem occurred unexpectedly while braking into the first corner, noting that the engine began making a bad noise and lost power during acceleration.

Cadillac officials suspect a power unit failure caused the retirement on lap 48. Despite the setback, Bottas noted that the team's race pace was occasionally better than expected, providing a positive takeaway for future competitions. His teammate, Sergio Pérez, finished the race in 19th place.

Amidst the technical struggles, Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss addressed the team's driver lineup. While confirming that both Bottas and Pérez are currently under contract, Towriss indicated that internal discussions regarding driver performance are ongoing. He also acknowledged the possibility of American driver Colton Herta joining the team as early as 2027.