Valtteri Bottas Confident Cadillac Has Fixed Brake Issues

Valtteri Bottas believes Cadillac F1 Team is moving in the right direction to solve the brake and cooling issues that have affected the team throughout the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The American outfit has endured several reliability problems across the first seven rounds, including the complete brake failure Bottas suffered in Barcelona. Similar issues also forced him into consecutive retirements in Monaco and Spain, prompting Cadillac to introduce a major upgrade package for the Austrian Grand Prix.

The latest package focuses on both performance and reliability through revised sidepods and floor updates, while improving cooling has been one of the primary development targets. Although much of the braking system is supplied by Brembo, Bottas does not believe the root cause lies with supplier-produced components.

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"No, I wouldn't say so. Actually, we know that we can make some different parts. We have made some different parts for here, and I actually feel like if we can survive here, we should be able to survive anywhere," said Bottas.

According to Bottas, the Red Bull Ring is one of the toughest circuits on the calendar for braking systems because of its altitude and temperatures. As a result, the Austrian Grand Prix will provide Cadillac with a crucial benchmark to evaluate whether its latest technical solution has finally resolved the issue.

If the upgrade performs as expected, Cadillac could not only improve reliability but also establish a stronger technical foundation for the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season.