MOTORSPORT – CADILLAC join the Formula 1 grid in 2026 and Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be behind the wheel.
The team confirmed yesterday the drivers signed multiyear deals, though financial terms were not announced.
“Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo (Perez) is a bold signal of intent,” team principal Graeme Lowdon said in the announcement. “They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life.”
Cadillac enter F1 as the circuit’s 11th team and just the second American- centric team in F1 history. General Motors is the constructor, operating under the Cadillac brand.
Rather than tap an American driver for one of its cars, however, the new team targeted veteran talent. The drivers have 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 victories between them.
Mexico’s Perez was dropped by Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 season, but the 35-year-old is not far removed from finishing second in the 2023 F1 championship and third in 2022. He has won six Grand Prix since breaking into the F1 ranks in 2011.
Bottas, also 35, hails from Finland and drove for four teams from 2013-14, most recently Sauber. He served as a reserve driver for Mercedes and a test driver for McLaren this year.
Bottas finished second overall in 2019 and 2020 and third in 2017 and 2021 while with Mercedes, which won team championships annually from 2017-21.
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