Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas, who joined alongside Sergio Perez, has not gotten off to the best start with the new American team thus far.

Bottas and Perez were brought in to provide experience, helping a team making its debut season.

With two seasoned drivers behind the wheel, the team can get feedback on its overall operations, from radio communication to car development back at the factory; there is a lot that Perez and Bottas can help with.

On track, Perez has been the superior driver overall, showing good pace and racecraft that have led to better-than-expected performances.

Bottas, on the other hand, has not been as stellar, raising doubts about his future with the team, given the many options among young drivers and other veterans.

However, according to F1 reporter Lawrence Barretto, Bottas’ spot is looking quite secure for 2027, giving him time to settle in.

“Valtteri Bottas’ tricky start to life at Cadillac has led to chatter that his seat might be under threat – but while his results on track have been below his high standards, his efforts behind the scenes have most certainly been recognized by the American squad,” Barretto wrote in his story.

“That has paid off in a big way, with Cadillac taking a lot of the low-hanging fruit available in that early phase for a new team – and that’s helping put the building blocks in place for the team to kick on and catch the midfield.

“With that in mind, it’s believed that the team at this stage has no intention of changing their driver line-up for 2027.”

Who could replace Bottas if Cadillac changes its mind?

The American team could try to coax Fernando Alonso into joining their project, or they could go with younger options like Franco Colapinto if he left Alpine.

Colapinto has a good amount of experience at two different teams, and presents some upside if they want a fresher, quicker mind.

Additionally, American Colton Herta lies in wait in F2, honing his skills in single-seaters and waiting for a possible F1 drive with Cadillac.

Herta may still need more time, while Colapinto may not present enough of an upgrade, leaving Bottas with a clear lane unless his performance falls off drastically.