26 Aug 2025, 14:40
Cadillac Chooses Bottas and Perez for Debut in F1 in 2026
- Bottas and Perez will be the drivers for Cadillac in Formula 1 in 2026.
- The chosen drivers have significant experience and a successful career in F1.
- Cadillac plans to recruit American drivers in the future, but the priority is experience.
Officially: veteran Formula 1 drivers Sergey "Checo" Perez and Valtteri Bottas will represent Cadillac in 2026. This announcement was made by Dan Towse, the team’s general director, and Mark Reuss, president of General Motors, in a video. The chosen drivers do not have a place in the current season, but their experience and leadership qualities were decisive in the selection.
Reuss noted that the experience of Bottas and Perez, who together have 106 podiums in their careers, is important for the new team, which plans to debut in Formula 1. Bottas, who previously was a teammate of Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, has won 10 races, while Perez has recorded six wins, including five with Red Bull.
Dan Towse stressed that the chosen drivers ensure the team has the necessary professionalism. "We discussed many drivers, but Bottas and Perez became our first choice," he said. He emphasized that the team has ambitions for the future, but believes that experience in the initial stage is more important than youth.
This step is also linked to Cadillac's desire to recruit an American driver in the future, although the current priority is the stability and experience of the team. Towse added that Perez helps the team connect with one of the most important markets for General Motors - Mexico.
Cadillac will become the 11th team in Formula 1 since new teams entered the sport in 2016. The first race of the 2026 season is scheduled for March in Australia, and Bottas and Perez will begin testing the new car in January.
Tags: Automotive/Sport