Cadillac has confirmed its first driver lineup in Formula 1, formed by Sergio Perez and Valteri Bottas in 2026.
Formula 1’s latest participants will be on the grid next season and continue to build their teams from scratch, so they will target experience on at least one of the two race seats. The backed outfits from General Motors and TWG Motorsports were dropped by Red Bull at the end of last season, and six-time winner Perez has returned to the grid.
“Being part of the Cadillac Formula 1 team is a very exciting new chapter in my career,” Perez said. “From our first conversation I was able to feel the passion and determination behind this project, part of a team that can develop together, and we are honored to be able to compete on the front line in the future.
“Cadillac is the legendary name of American Motorsports and it’s a great responsibility to help lead such a great company into Formula 1, and I’m confident in it.
“I’m proud to be part of such an ambitious and meaningful project from the start. I’m really happy to be part of such a dynamic lineup. Together, I can help shape this team into a true candidate, an American team.
Alongside Perez, there are former Mercedes, Williams and Sauber driver Bottas. He has won 10 wins for his name, another 67 podiums, earning over 100 total podiums, and over 500 races will start between the pair.
Perez will be returning to the F1` grid for the first time since splitting with Red Bull at the end of 2024. Mark Thompson/Getty Images
“From the moment I started talking to the Cadillac Formula 1 team, I felt something different. I also felt ambitious but grounded,” Botas said. “This is not just a racing project, it’s a long-term vision. It’s not every day that we can help us become part of something that’s built from scratch and shape it into something that really belongs to the F1 grid.
“I had the honor of working with some of the best teams in the world. Here you can already see the same professionalism and hunger. It’s very special to me to be an iconic brand with a huge legacy in American motorsports and being part of the storyline that enters the world stage of Formula 1.
“We also want to thank Mercedes for its unwavering support and sportsmanship and promote such an exciting step.”
Talks with Mercedes are ongoing and Bottas can begin working with Cadillac before the end of the current season, with team principal Graeme Loudon saying both drivers will play a major role in developing the new team.
“Signing two extremely experienced racers like Botas and Cecko is a bold signal of intent,” Lodon said. “They’ve seen it all, but they know what it takes to be successful in Formula 1, but even more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team.
“Their leadership, feedback, the instincts that the race struggles, and of course their speed is invaluable as we bring this team to life. We are very grateful to the Mercedes team for their cooperation and understanding.”
