Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas set for F1 return with Cadillac in 2026
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will return to the Formula 1 grid in 2026 as the driver line-up for Cadillac’s debut season.
The American manufacturer confirmed the news on Tuesday in a launch video narrated by actor Keanu Reeves.
Cadillac enters the sport as F1’s 11th team and will run Ferrari power units in its first years before developing its own engines later in the decade.
The team will be led by Graeme Lowdon, the former Marussia Sporting Director, and will operate out of facilities in Indiana, North Carolina and Silverstone.
Veteran pairing brings experience
For the driver pairing, Cadillac have opted for two of the most experienced names available.
Perez, a six-time race winner, returns to the grid after losing his Red Bull seat at the end of 2024. Bottas, who claimed 10 victories with Mercedes between 2017 and 2021, has been serving as the team’s reserve driver in 2025.
Between them, the pair bring more than 500 Grand Prix starts and a wealth of experience that the new outfit hopes will provide stability in its early years.
“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,” Bottas said.
Perez described the move as “a huge responsibility” and said he was proud to represent Cadillac as it steps onto the world stage.
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Cadillac faces steep learning curve
Team principal Graeme Lowdon called the line-up a statement of intent, pointing to their leadership and technical knowledge as crucial to shaping the team’s first car.
GM President Mark Reuss added that Cadillac’s arrival is about building “an extraordinary legacy” in F1.
The task will not be easy. As the newest team on the grid, Cadillac faces a steep learning curve both technically and competitively.
But with two proven race winners at the wheel, the project has already captured the attention of fans who see Perez and Bottas as a “dream team” partnership for the sport’s next new entry.
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