Bottas and Perez confirmed as Cadillac’s first F1 drivers for 2026 debut

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will return to the Formula 1 grid next year after being named as the inaugural driver line-up for Cadillac’s new team, Sport360NG reports.

The pair, both without seats this season following their exits at the end of 2024, have been chosen to spearhead the US manufacturer’s entry into the sport.

Mark Reuss, president of General Motors, Cadillac’s parent company, said the decision was driven by the duo’s proven pedigree at the highest level.
“They bring wins, podiums and invaluable experience,” Reuss said. “Together they make a really strong, winning combination.”

Bottas, who turns 36 this week, claimed 10 victories and 20 pole positions with Mercedes while partnering Lewis Hamilton between 2017 and 2021. The Finn most recently raced for Sauber last year and has since served as Mercedes’ reserve driver.

Perez, 35, is a six-time race winner, five of those triumphs coming with Red Bull from 2021 to 2024. Despite being under contract until 2026, he was released by the team last winter after failing to convince that he could consistently support Max Verstappen’s title challenges.

Dan Towriss, CEO of GM partner TWG Global, admitted Cadillac considered recruiting a younger talent before opting for experience.
“The leadership, technical knowledge and maturity of these two stood out,” Towriss said. “We know there’s a strong pool of emerging drivers, but for a project of this scale, proven ability was essential.”

Both drivers expressed excitement at helping shape the team’s early steps in Formula 1.
“This is more than a race seat; it’s the chance to build something from the ground up,” Bottas said. “Cadillac is an iconic name in American motorsport, and bringing that legacy onto the F1 stage is very special.”

Perez echoed those sentiments: “From the beginning I could feel the passion and ambition behind this project. It’s a big responsibility to help a company of Cadillac’s stature enter Formula 1, but one I’m ready to embrace.”

Team boss Graeme Lowdon has already tempered expectations, saying the squad should anticipate a challenging first year.
“Any new entry has to assume they’ll start at the back,” he remarked earlier this summer. “If you arrive and immediately beat established teams, something’s gone wrong somewhere else.”

Cadillac had been linked with IndyCar stars Colton Herta and Josef Newgarden, but Herta in particular does not yet have enough FIA points to qualify for a super-licence. Towriss stressed that while an American driver remains a long-term goal, experience had to take priority for the debut campaign.