Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be the inaugural drivers for the Cadillac F1 Team.

      Dan Mullan

      Get The Drive’s daily newsletter

      The latest car news, reviews, and features.

      Sergio Perez is returning to Formula 1 with Cadillac following a somewhat bitter split from Red Bull Racing last year. He will be joined by Valtteri Bottas, who is set to leave his position at Mercedes at the end of the current season. Team CEO Dan Towriss confirmed on Tuesday morning that both veteran drivers have been hired on equal terms with multi-year contracts.

      Towriss, alongside General Motors President Mark Reuss, held a press conference to introduce the team's first drivers, although they did not reveal specific details regarding the duration or compensation of the contracts.

      This announcement validates the speculations that have circulated since the team's founding, which intensified in recent weeks as several sources claimed to have insider information about the duo's signing. Perez’s father, active on social media due to his involvement in Mexican politics, made it quite clear by sharing a photo of a Cadillac Escalade on Instagram over the weekend, captioned “The best is yet to come.” That post is no longer visible.

      “This is a significant moment for us that required considerable effort to reach this stage,” stated Towriss. “There has been much conjecture regarding which drivers would be selected for the Cadillac team, but after a thorough evaluation led by our team principal Graeme Lowdon, I am happy to announce—or perhaps better put, confirm—the signing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as the two drivers for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team in its inaugural season for the 2026 World Championship.

      “We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with them. We trust in their experience, leadership, and technical expertise; they represent the ideal driver duo at just the right time. We are grateful for their confidence in us and this project. While there is a pool of young drivers who are incredibly talented and exciting, and F1 is the pinnacle of racing, this was a difficult choice. Ultimately, the experience and leadership of these two individuals shone through.”

      Cadillac F1

      Reuss, deeply involved with GM’s racing initiatives—whether it’s Chevy in IndyCar or Cadillac in WEC and IMSA—expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s new drivers.

      “It’s very exciting today to see Cadillac and the commitment that GM has with TWG,” remarked Reuss. “Dan mentioned the numerous podiums and victories these two drivers have accumulated, which is crucial, as designing new vehicles requires a strong partnership between the drivers and the technical team. We have the personnel and the tools, along with significant investments in these areas, so now we have drivers with extensive experience on F1 circuits, making them a vital component. The insights they will provide for vehicle development will mark a significant moment in Cadillac's history. This combination should lead to success.”

      In March 2026, two Ferrari-powered Cadillacs will arrive at Albert Park, ready to set a new hierarchy not only for the 11 teams but also for the 22 drivers. With all-new regulations in effect by that time, it will be intriguing to observe where Cadillac, Perez, Bottas, and others will place. Although there’s always hope for a substantial reshuffling of the established order, several months will pass before we can gauge a team’s potential. According to Reuss, development of GM’s F1 power unit is still projected to be completed by the end of the decade.

      It will also be fascinating to witness the internal competition between Perez and Bottas for the prestigious number one driver position within the team. Both drivers have previously finished second to their star teammates in the drivers' championship—Bottas to Lewis Hamilton and Perez to Max Verstappen. However, Bottas has stronger career statistics compared to his Mexican counterpart. The Finn has secured 10 wins compared to Checo’s six and boasts an impressive 67 podiums versus Perez's 39. In terms of pole positions, Bottas leads with 20, while Perez has just three.

      Got a tip? Email us at [email protected]