Cadillac Confirms Pérez and Bottas for its Formula 1 Debut in 2026
The Cadillac racing team has officially announced the driver lineup that will compete in its debut season in Formula 1 in 2026: Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas. According to sources, Cadillac has opted for two renowned drivers, with an impressive track record of 527 races started and 16 victories between them. The announcement, which included a narration by actor Keanu Reeves, highlighted the “unrivaled mix of experience, leadership, and technical prowess” that Pérez and Bottas bring. The team added that both drivers will play a fundamental role in building the team’s competitive base from day one. Mexican driver Sergio Pérez, after his departure from Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season, expressed his enthusiasm for this new stage.Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 team is an exciting chapter in my career. From the first conversations, I felt the passion and determination behind this project. It’s an honor to be part of building a team that, over time, will compete at the top. 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 take on.
Sergio Pérez
Pérez and Bottas were rivals in the epic battle for the 2021 championship between their then-teammates, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, considered one of the best in the history of the sport. Cadillac, a General Motors brand, will become the eleventh Formula 1 team next season. The American team will use Ferrari engines in the short term, although GM has already announced its commitment to build its own engines at a US headquarters by the end of the decade. The Cadillac team, led by former Manor team principal Graeme Lowdon, has American motorsport legend Mario Andretti, 1978 F1 champion, on its board of directors.From the moment I started talking to the Cadillac Formula 1 team, I felt something different, something ambitious but also grounded. This is not just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision. Not every day do you have 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
Cadillac still has the option of having a reserve driver who can substitute for Pérez and Bottas, with Mick Schumacher as a possible candidate, while the American Formula 2 driver, Jak Crawford, is also interested in the position. The operation will be primarily based in a factory in the United Kingdom, near the Silverstone circuit, but will also have locations in Fishers, Indiana, and Warren, Michigan, in the United States. GM plans to open a specific Formula 1 engine factory in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2026.Signing two drivers with as much experience as Bottas and Checo is a clear sign of intent. They have seen it all and know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But, more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, their comments, their instincts forged in competition 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.
Graeme Lowdon
