Cadillac Signs Perez, Bottas Ahead of F1 Debut In 2026

Cadillac is set to make a Formula 1 debut next season, and the incoming Racing Team has completed two driver signings, becoming the sport's 11th racing team. 

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will return to the grid with Cadillac, which has partnered with General Motors to produce their car. Cadillac announced it had finalised plans to join the sport last year, after an agreement was completed between the organisers and General Motors.

Graeme Lowdon, the team's sporting director, commended the signings as "experienced racers", whose experience on the grid is vital to the development of the team to succeed.  

Considering Bottas' experience at Mercedes, Lowdon might be right. The Finn driver raced alongside seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton after Nico Rosberg retired and left Mercedes. In his 12 years on the grid, Bottas has won 10 Grand Prix with Mercedes and left the German Racing Team to join Sauber in 2022. 

Perez is also a well-experienced racer, considering his successes at Red Bull, where he raced alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen won the F1 World Championship in his debut season with Red Bull in 2021, and after three successful seasons with the team, Perez had a challenging time in the 2024 F1 season as his contract with the team came to a close. He has since been out of action and will return with Cadillac in 2026.