Valtteri Bottas issues strongly-worded statement over 'b******t' rumours ahead of Monaco GP

Valtteri Bottas has issued a strongly-worded response to claims that he could be dropped by Cadillac during his first season with the team.

Cadillac joined the Formula 1 grid ahead of the 2026 season as the 11th constructor, and opted for experience by signing up Bottas and Sergio Perez as their inaugural drivers.

It was widely expected that it would take time for the US constructor to move from backmarkers to midfield runners, and their early upgrades have at least provided some hope on that front.

Perez finished in 11th place on the track in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint, ahead of more established teams, though a 10-second penalty dropped him down to 15th.

And in Miami, the Mexican was just over two tenths away from getting out of Q1 for the first time.

There has been an apparent performance difference between Perez and Bottas, though Bottas did record Cadillac's best finish of the season so far when he crossed the line in 13th in China.

Bottas finished four laps down in the Canadian GP (Image: Getty)

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon noted after Canada that the small sample size of results, as well as the constant work to improve and develop both cars, and the car setups, mean that it is difficult at this stage to assess the exact difference between the two drivers.

Bottas hits back at Cadillac exit claims

Following the last Grand Prix, reports emerged that Cadillac were already planning to replace Bottas just five races into the season.

Sky Sports Italia reported that Bottas' position at Cadillac was already in doubt and that, if a change was made, he was widely expected to be replaced by F2 driver Colton Herta.

Herta, who formerly competed in IndyCar, is Cadillac's reserve driver but does not yet have enough points to hold an FIA Super Licence, which is needed to race in F1.

Cadillac have already dismissed uncertainty surrounding Bottas, and the Finn himself has furiously hit back at the speculation.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, Bottas told the official Formula 1 website: "It's not the first time I've faced those kind of rumours.

"It's a bit of a shame that somebody just makes up complete b***s**t, but that's normal in this sport," he said.

"I know my situation. The team knows my situation, and they support me 100 per cent. So that's why, from my side, it was okay in the end."

"Headlines. Clicks. That's my theory," he said, when asked why the reports had emerged in the first place.

"I was actually having my morning coffee, and when I saw the first rumour, I kind of laughed about it. That's the kind of negative side of this sport sometimes.

"Sometimes people just want to make rumours to write stuff and make up stuff. I've learned it's part of it, and it doesn't really affect me anymore."