Valtteri Bottas to drive historic Ferrari F1 car at Adelaide Motorsport Festival ahead of 2026 return

Valtteri Bottas is set to drive the Ferrari 156/85 from the 1985 Formula 1 season at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival ahead of the 2026 F1 season.

The event, taking place 28 February to 1 March, is a week before the 2026 F1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix.

Bottas will be joined by former F1 driver Stefan Johansson, who will drive his own No. 28 Ferrari 156/85 in the demonstration session. For fans attending the event, Bottas and Johansson will drive the Ferraris at 1:45pm on Sunday. Bottas will also drive a V8 Holden HQ Monaro for a separate demonstration run at 11:30am on the same day.

This comes ahead of Bottas's return to a full-time racing seat in the championship. After failing to secure a contract for 2025, the Finnish driver returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver while he worked to find a seat for 2026. It was later confirmed that the 36-year-old had signed with Cadillac alongside former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez.

The American outfit will make its debut in the series in 2026 as the 11th team on the grid. Its arrival coincides with the regulation changes set to be introduced, which include smaller, lighter cars with a 50/50 split between internal combustion engine and electric power. Sustainable fuel will also be used, and DRS will be replaced by active aerodynamics, among other changes. 

Stefan Johansson, Ferrari 156/85

Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

"From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded," Bottas said of his upcoming move. "This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision.

"It's not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.

"I’ve had the honour of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.

"This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me. I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step."