Cadillac has officially announced Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas as its driver pairing for the 2026 season, bringing a vast amount of experience to the series’ newest team.
The duo, both 35, boast a combined 16 victories and over 500 Grand Prix starts. Cadillac, backed by General Motors and operated by TWG Motorsports under CEO Dan Towriss, will become the sport’s 11th team when it debuts at the Australian Grand Prix.
Team principal Graeme Lowdon, formerly of Marussia, spearheaded the search for the inaugural line-up.
“Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent,” Lowdon said.
“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.”
Pérez and Bottas both lost full-time seats at the end of the 2024 season. Red Bull dropped the Mexican, replacing him with Kiwi Liam Lawson, despite helping the team secure back-to-back Constructors’ Championships in 2022 and 2023.
He briefly held talks with Alpine before months of negotiations brought him to Cadillac on a multi-year deal.
“Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career,” Pérez 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.”
Bottas, meanwhile, shifted into a reserve role with Mercedes and testing duties for McLaren after his Sauber exit. The Finn previously hinted at Cadillac’s appeal.
“Something new to F1, an American team with maybe a different view to the sport. The team starts from zero. You could actually make a big influence on certain things, which direction to go, and that would be very motivating and rewarding when the success comes.”
The 10-time Grand Prix winner also expressed excitement at the challenge ahead.
“This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision,” Bottas said.
“It’s not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.”
Originally conceived by Michael Andretti in 2021, the program was acquired by Towriss and TWG Global to gain entry approval.
Despite early plans to run an American driver, the team shifted focus toward experience. IndyCar star Colton Herta had been linked to a seat, but without a super licence or F1 background, he was overlooked for the launch season.
Towriss said experience was the decisive factor.
“What it comes back to is experience in Formula 1 carried the day. Everybody’s new, everybody’s working together for the first time. We think that the experience that these two bring is really what’s most important.”
The Cadillac team will lease Ferrari power units under the new 2026 regulations. Both drivers and management acknowledged that podiums and wins will not come quickly.
“It’s a project,” Pérez admitted.
“It’s not about going to win races and score points.” Bottas echoed that sentiment.
“We don’t need to prove anything to anyone. We’ve got to put the team first. That’s what we’re here for and probably why we were chosen.”
Beyond the track, Pérez strengthens Cadillac’s ties to the Mexican market, a key region for General Motors.
“The market in Mexico is a big deal for General Motors, and frankly, North America,” said GM President Mark Reuss.
“We sell a lot of cars in Mexico, and the fanbase there is absolutely enthusiastic.”
Towriss also highlighted the drivers’ off-track value.
“Checo and Valtteri have very strong followings, from a commercial standpoint, from a sponsorship standpoint, their impact from being on the Formula 1 circuit for many, many years.”
For Cadillac, the signing of Pérez and Bottas represents both ambition and pragmatism. Towriss summed up the team’s outlook:
“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 line-up announcement. It’s the beginning of a bold new chapter in American motorsport.”
Header Image: Formula 1/Cadillac
