Perez signs on for Cadillac’s bold F1 entry: “the team of the Americas”
Sergio Perez is coming back to the grid in 2026, and he’s betting big on Cadillac. The American marque confirmed the Mexican will spearhead its new Formula 1 team alongside fellow returnee Valtteri Bottas, who will step out of his Mercedes reserve role to partner him.
For Perez, who left Red Bull at the end of 2024 and sat out the 2025 season, the pitch was irresistible: help build something from the ground up, then fight at the sharp end. “Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career,” he said. “From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. It’s an honour to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front.”
Cadillac’s messaging is clear: this isn’t just another new entrant, it’s a flag-planting exercise. Perez leaned into that vision. “Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a huge responsibility,” he added. “I’m really pleased to be part of such a dynamic line-up, and together I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender, the team of the Americas.”
Pairing Perez with Bottas gives Cadillac one of the most seasoned line-ups on the 2026 grid from day one. Between them, they’ve seen just about every corner of the sport — podiums, pressure cookers, rebuilds — and that’s precisely the point. Startups need finishers, and both know how to grind out direction in the messiness of a first season.
Dan Towriss, chief executive of TWG Motorsports and Cadillac F1, didn’t play coy about why the duo got the nod. “Bottas and Checo bring the perfect balance of talent, maturity, and drive,” he said. “They’re not just accomplished racers, they’re builders, collaborators, and professionals who will help define what the Cadillac Formula 1 Team stands for. This moment marks more than just a lineup announcement. It’s the beginning of a bold new chapter in American motorsport.”
There’s a lot still under wraps — the car, the structure, the first test mileage — but the intent is loud. Cadillac wants credibility fast, and it’s brought in two drivers who have navigated powerhouse operations and tricky rebuilds. Perez, particularly, arrives with unfinished business after his Red Bull exit. He’s motivated, and he won’t need long to get his elbows out.
The grid hasn’t exactly been short on American storylines in recent years, but this one has genuine substance. If Cadillac can match the punch of its branding with the patience and ruthlessness required to climb the order, the “team of the Americas” might be more than a slogan. Now it’s time to turn the promise into lap time.
