Valtteri Bottas faced another setback at the Singapore Grand Prix, with Cadillac’s well‑known brake‑overheating sparking yet another rough weekend.
Brakes Still a Problem
The MAC‑26’s overheating has plagued the season, causing four retirements and forcing teams to limit performance through extensive management. Cadillac addressed the issue in Hungary and Azerbaijan, slashing brake temperatures by 100 °C during the latter stint, yet the upgrade didn’t unlock a trouble‑free Singapore race.
“I had to start lifting and coasting on lap two,” Bottas told reporters. “Things stabilized, I didn’t need to lift‑and‑coast for a while, then they came back.” He added that while both cars finished the race, “most teams will need some form of management here.”
Bottas believes the problem is “almost solved,” expressing confidence that the remainder of the season will see fewer brake woes and that the next‑year redesign will be substantially different.
Managing the Pace on Marina Bay
Even with the lift‑and‑coast strategy, Bottas made a clear pace deficit, being almost a lap behind teammate Sergio Perez. He lost 96 s overall, about 1.6 s per lap, and admitted he was “lacking pace on the entry or mid‑corner…I was getting all the feedback from the team.” Despite trying multiple approaches, the ride felt “a step change” from previous outings.
Perez’s Optimism, Bottas Remains Cautious
Perez, while 48 s behind Fernando Alonso, praised the team’s operational solidity: “We’re just lacking a second, a second and a half.” He said the car had consistently left the Astons in the rear throughout the opening stint and that closing that gap is key to staying in the mix.
Comparatively, Bottas said the United States Grand Prix will “be another difficult one, hopefully better than here,” noting a need to shift from “underperformed” to stronger pace.
Six Races to Compete
Cadillac still has six options to secure its first top‑10 finish this debut F1 season. The drivers and team will aim to translate the recent brake improvements into competitive results before the season ends.
"