Pérez and Bottas will lead Cadillac in F1 2026: New stellar duo

Cadillac Confirms Pérez and Bottas for its Formula 1 Debut in 2026

Cadillac has officially announced the driver lineup for its debut season in Formula 1 in 2026, with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas leading the way. This decision follows rumors from last week, which indicated that Cadillac had opted for two of the most prominent free agents. Together, they have a combined 527 starts and 16 wins. The announcement, which included the voice of actor Keanu Reeves, was accompanied by a statement from Cadillac, highlighting that Pérez and Bottas will bring “an unparalleled combination of experience, leadership, and technical prowess.” It was added that “both will play a central role in shaping the team’s competitive base from day one.” Mexican driver Sergio Pérez, after leaving Red Bull at the end of a complicated 2024 season, now joins Cadillac. His goal is to help establish the team as a competitive force immediately.

“Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career. From our first conversations, I could feel the passion and determination behind this project,” said Pérez.

Sergio Pérez

Pérez added: “It’s an honor to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, over time, we can fight at the front. Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and helping to bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a great responsibility, one that I am sure to assume.”

Introducing the Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver lineup for 2026: @SChecoPerez and @ValtteriBottas. pic.twitter.com/fT651v6XhB

— Cadillac Racing (@Cadillac_F1) May 21, 2024

Bottas, who also hasn’t had a race seat this year, returns to Mercedes as a reserve driver after his time at Sauber.

“From the moment I started talking to the Cadillac Formula 1 team, I felt something different, something ambitious but also grounded,” commented Bottas. “This is not just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision. Not every day do you get the opportunity to be part of something that is built from scratch and help turn it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.”

Valtteri Bottas

Pérez and Bottas were rivals in the battle for the 2021 championship, in which Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton starred in one of the most remembered fights in the history of the sport. Cadillac, part of General Motors, will become the eleventh Formula 1 team next season. The American team will use Ferrari engines in the short term, although GM has plans to build its own engines at a US headquarters by the end of the decade. Initially, the team was looking to have an American driver in one of the two available seats, but this did not materialize, despite the interest of Colton Herta from IndyCar.

The Cadillac team is led by Graeme Lowdon, former head of the Manor team, and has American motorsport legend Mario Andretti, 1978 F1 champion, on its board of directors. Lowdon commented on the new lineup: “Hiring two drivers with as much experience as Bottas and Checo is a clear sign of our intentions. They have seen it all and know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But, most importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race instincts and, of course, their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life. A big thank you to the Mercedes team for their cooperation and understanding.” Cadillac still has the option of a reserve driver to support Pérez and Bottas, with Mick Schumacher as a strong candidate, while American Formula 2 driver Jak Crawford is also in the running for that role. The operation will be primarily based in a factory in the United Kingdom, near the Silverstone circuit, but will also have bases in the United States, in Fishers, Indiana, and Warren, Michigan. GM plans to open a specific Formula 1 engine factory in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2026.