Cadillac announces F1 return with Bottas and Perez for 2026 season

Formula 1 veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are making a comeback to the grid, as the newly formed Cadillac F1 team has announced them as their drivers for the 2026 season. The move marks a return to the sport for both men, neither of whom competed in 2025 after being dropped by their respective teams at the end of the previous season.

Mark Reuss, president of Cadillac’s parent company General Motors, praised the decision, calling Bottas and Perez "a really good winning combination." He emphasized that the choice was based on the drivers' extensive experience, including multiple wins and podium finishes throughout their careers.

Valtteri Bottas, who turns 36 this week, secured 10 victories and 20 pole positions during his five seasons with Mercedes from 2017 to 2021 as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate. He last raced for Sauber in 2024 and is currently serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver this season.

Sergio Perez, 35, has six Grand Prix victories to his name. Five of those wins came with Red Bull between 2021 and 2024, while his first was with Racing Point (now Aston Martin) in 2020. Perez was let go by Red Bull at the end of last season, despite having two years remaining on his contract, after the team felt he had not provided the consistent support needed for Max Verstappen.

According to Dan Towriss, CEO of GM’s partner TWG Global, the team considered signing a younger, less experienced driver but ultimately prioritized proven talent. "Their experience, leadership, and technical acumen are what we need," Towriss said. "There is a young pool of drivers who are exiting and very talented, so it was a tough decision. But it was the leadership of these two drivers that stood out."

In a team statement, Bottas said he was honored to join the project. "This isn't just a racing project; it's a long-term vision," he said. "It's not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up."

Perez echoed his new teammate’s sentiment, stating, "From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. To help bring such a fantastic company to F1 is a huge responsibility, one I'm confident of taking on."

While Cadillac hopes to have an American driver on their team in the future, Towriss stated that F1 experience was the most important factor for their inaugural season. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon also acknowledged in June that the team expects to be at the back of the grid initially.

"Can you imagine if you've owned a Formula 1 team for 10 years and then another team rocks up and beats you? You would be apoplectic," Lowdon said. "You have to assume that any new team coming in is going to be last, you know, otherwise, you know, what's gone wrong somewhere else?"