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UPDATE: The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has confirmed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have been signed as drivers for the team’s debut season in Formula 1 in 2026.
With the signing of veteran F1 drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, who have 527 race starts and 100 podiums between them. It’s a safe bet in a sport that traditionally favours upside over experience. Still, early signs suggest it’s probably the right decision for a team that’s yet to figure out where it sits amongst the ever-crowded 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,” said Valtteri Bottas. “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.”
Sergio “Checo” Perez added, “Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career. From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. It’s an honour to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front. Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a huge responsibility, one I’m confident of taking on. I’m proud to be part of such an ambitious and meaningful project from the very beginning. I’m really pleased to be part of such a dynamic line-up, and together I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender, the team of the Americas. We’re counting on support from across the continent – and we want to make everyone proud.”
How the Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas Signing Played Out
Valtteri Bottas started rumours months ago after he posted a video to his social media asking, “Do we like seat?” regarding a Cadillac Escalade he was driving. On the other hand, Sergio Perez was remarkably quiet before the brand confirmed the signing overnight.
Previously speaking to F1.com about a potential return to the grid, Perez said that he was waiting for the right opportunity to come his way. “If I find a project that motivates me fully to come back, where the team believe in me and where they appreciate my career, my experience and everything I can bring to a team, it would be very attractive to consider it,” he said in a video call from his home in Mexico.
“That’s why I’ve given myself at least six months to get all my options on the table and make a decision on what I do next with my career.”
Now, six months later, Checo and Bottas are set to return to the grid alongside each other, behind the wheel of an unproven but well-funded and researched Cadillac F1 team.
What Performance Expectations Do We Have for Cadillac F1?
Let’s start by taking a look at each driver’s history.
Valtteri Bottas – F1 stats
- Nationality: Finnish
- Date of birth: August 28, 1989
- F1 debut: 2013
- F1 race starts: 246
- F1 race wins: 10
- F1 race podiums: 67
- F1 pole positions: 20
- F1 fastest Laps: 19
- Best F1 world championship finish: 2nd (2019, 2020)
Sergio Pérez – F1 stats
- Nationality: Mexican
- Date of birth: January 26, 1990
- F1 debut: 2011
- F1 race starts: 281
- F1 race wins: 6
- F1 race podiums: 39
- F1 pole positions: 3
- F1 fastest Laps: 12
- Best F1 world championship finish: 2nd (2023)
It’s likely that Cadillac will finish at the bottom of the standings next season, with little real-world testing taking place between now and the first race of the season in Melbourne on Sunday, March 8th, 2026. The team will hope to replicate the Haas debut from 2016, which saw Romain Grosjean secure a sixth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, but it’s unlikely, and points will be hard to find during the first season.
They do have a trick up their sleeve with Bottas, however. He’s a proven race winner with 10 wins, 20 poles, and 67 podiums. Most importantly, he’s Mercedes’ 2025 reserve, which means he’s likely had early sim mileage on 2026-spec concepts. This should at least give them a head start in understanding the new regulations and vehicle behaviour.
Pre-season testing will be paramount for the team, and they’ll be able to sleep easier at night between now and then, knowing that they have two veteran drivers in the hot seat, ready to share technical knowledge and develop the cars with their engineers.
They would already be looking well ahead to private testing on January 26th-30th at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This will be the first time the new drivers can get behind the wheel of the Ferrari-powered Cadillac F1 car, but the media and public will have to wait a little longer to see the 11th team practice. Public testing for the F1 season doesn’t begin until February 11th-13th at the Bahrain International Circuit and then February 18th-20th at the same track.
“Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent,” said Team Principal Graeme Lowdon. “They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life. A big thank you to the team at Mercedes for their co-operation and understanding.”
Once Cadillac matures and figures out the technical side of the sport, it will be able to take bigger risks and develop younger drivers, including the likes of Marta Garcia and even Logan Sargeant, who competed for Williams in 2023 and part of 2024 before being replaced.
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