Bottas anticipates Austria upgrade test amid reliability focus

Valtteri Bottas believes the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix will serve as a significant proving ground for Cadillac's new upgrade package. The Finn is eager to move past a series of retirements and aims to see the team make progress towards the midfield.

Cadillac is introducing substantial updates to their car for the event at the Red Bull Ring, including new sidepods, bodywork, and floor. These improvements are intended to boost performance and close the gap to rivals. However, following recent issues with brakes and overheating that led to retirements in Monaco and Barcelona, Bottas emphasized that resolving reliability concerns remains the team's primary objective.

Despite potential challenges from the high temperatures expected in Austria, Bottas expressed cautious optimism regarding cooling systems. He highlighted changes made to the car's bodywork and brake cooling options. "If we can survive here, I think it means we can survive anywhere on this calendar," Bottas stated, indicating the Austrian circuit's demanding nature.

His teammate, Sergio Perez, echoed the sentiment of seeking progress and noted the team's improving pace over a single lap. Perez hopes the new upgrades will help Cadillac become more competitive, particularly in managing tyre performance and closing the gap to midfield competitors.