F1: Sergio Perez And Valtteri Bottas To Drive For Cadillac In Debut Season

Last Updated:August 26, 2025, 17:37 IST

Cadillac named Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for its 2026 Formula 1 debut, prioritising experience over an American driver as it joins the grid as the 11th team.

Formula One: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will race for Cadillac (AP)

Cadillac opted for a cautious approach with its first Formula 1 lineup, choosing experienced series veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez over an American driver.

Neither Bottas nor Perez currently have seats on the grid this season, but their combined 16 wins and 527 starts make them pragmatic choices to help build the Cadillac program set to launch in 2026. The announcements made on Tuesday bring significant F1 knowledge to Cadillac, a division of U.S. car giant General Motors, which will become the 11th team on the grid in 2026.

“We believe their experience, their leadership and their technical acumen are really what we need," said Dan Towriss, CEO of the Cadillac Formula 1 team and TWG Motorsports. “It’s the right combination, the right drivers at the right time, and we’re humbled by their belief in us and in this project."

Why Sergio Perez And Valteri Bottas Are Perfect For Cadillac?

Bottas and Perez had been considered front-runners for months, as drivers lobbied for two new seats on what will be a 22-car grid next year.

Although Michael Andretti’s project, started in 2021, aimed to create a true American team with a U.S. driver, Andretti had to step aside to help Cadillac and TWG secure approval from Formula One Management.

Towriss acquired Andretti’s stake, and the team is now owned by TWG Global. Towriss and GM President Mark Reuss said in May at the Miami Grand Prix that hiring an American driver was no longer a top priority.

IndyCar driver Colton Herta from California was initially marked for a seat by Andretti, but he has yet to earn the super license required to compete in F1, and Cadillac is willing to wait for an American driver. Towriss dismissed recent reports that he planned to move Herta to Formula 2 next year to gain the necessary points for his license.

Even if Herta had a super license, he lacks the F1 experience Cadillac desires for its launch.

“What it comes back to is experience in Formula 1 carried the day," Towriss said. “Everybody’s new, everybody’s working together for the first time. We think that the experience that these two bring are really what’s most important.

“We certainly do think about and it’s important to us to make sure there’s a pathway for an American driver in Formula 1 and we’ll be working on that. For this inaugural season, for what the team needs, and what these drivers bring, this was the right combination for the team."

The driver search was led by team principal Graeme Lowdon, who had at least a dozen viable options but told The Associated Press last month he had narrowed the list to “three or four" real contenders.

Perez, from Mexico, is 35, and Bottas, from Finland, turns 36 later this week. Both have finished runner-up in the championship before.

Bottas was second in the standings to his then-Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2019 and 2020, while Pérez, F1’s most successful Mexican driver, was second when his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen dominated 2023.

Red Bull dropped Pérez at the end of last year. Bottas is a Mercedes reserve driver this year after failing to score points in 2024 at Sauber.

Both drivers could also significantly contribute to car development as F1 regulations change for 2026. In commercial terms, Perez has brought major sponsorship from Mexico to his previous teams, while Bottas’ humour and social media presence make him a fan favourite.

Reuss said Perez helps the team connect with one of the automaker’s most critical markets.

“The market in Mexico is a big deal for General Motors, and frankly, North America," Reuss said. “We sell a lot of cars in Mexico and the fanbase there is absolutely enthusiastic. Those are side benefits."

Towriss emphasised the commercial appeal both drivers bring to the team.

“Checo and Valtteri have very strong followings, from a commercial standpoint, from a sponsorship standpoint, their impact from being on the Formula 1 circuit for many, many years," said Towriss, before noting that experience was still the primary factor.

“We talked to a lot of drivers," he said. “When you really sit down and get into the experience… and being able to create this chemistry in a team, the conversations are different and they really stand out from the others."

(With inputs from AP)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin...

Read More

News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location :

Spa

First Published:

August 26, 2025, 17:37 IST

News sports F1: Sergio Perez And Valtteri Bottas To Drive For Cadillac In Debut Season

Read More