Cadillac Set to Enter F1 with Veteran Experience After 2026 Agreement
Cadillac are set to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026, after General Motors was granted an entry, but the team has yet to confirm a driver despite their considerable resources.
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Alongside Mercedes and Racing Bulls, Cadillac are one of three teams without a signed driver for the 2026 season. Alpine and Red Bull also have seats available, with Franco Colapinto and Yuki Tsunoda still fighting to keep their spots.
The direction of the 2026 F1 driver market is largely being shaped by Max Verstappen and George Russell. Most teams are waiting on those decisions before making their own moves. Cadillac are reportedly interested in Russell, who will be out of contract at the end of next season.
But it appears that Cadillac’s main focus has been on experienced free agents like Valtteri Bottas, who could bring valuable stability for the team’s debut campaign. Reports now suggest that Bottas and Cadillac have agreed to terms on a deal.
Sergio Perez expected to be unveiled soon as Cadillac’s first F1 driver
However, no agreement has been finalised yet between Bottas and Cadillac for their return to the grid next season. Motorsport.com and Mundo Deportivo are both reporting that an announcement is expected soon, with Sergio Perez set to become the first driver signed by General Motors’ F1 team.
Mundo Deportivo added that Perez may even make the announcement himself, according to Mundo Deportivo. The GM entry prioritised signing an experienced F1 driver first to help team principal Graeme Lowdon and Pat Symonds develop their car at their factory in Silverstone.
Motorsport.com also highlights that GM has given Cadillac ‘significant resources’ to establish their Formula 1 programme from scratch. Perez has long been seen as their primary target, and the team is now ready to confirm his signing before naming his teammate in the coming weeks.
Bottas is still under consideration for a seat alongside Perez in 2026, but other names being looked at include Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu and Jak Crawford. Crawford needs to win this year’s Formula 2 title for an FIA Super Licence — he’s currently six points off the top spot.
Even though Cadillac remain interested in Bottas, it’s clear why they’re focused on signing Perez. The former Red Bull driver would bring invaluable experience from his time at some of Formula One’s biggest teams.
Sergio Perez hoping Cadillac return can put Red Bull struggles behind him
Perez will be looking to rebuild his reputation in F1 after a difficult final season with Red Bull. The Guadalajara native managed just 152 points out of the team’s 589 total in 2024, finishing eighth in the drivers’ championship.
Red Bull paid Perez £15.5m to terminate his contract last December, despite having previously agreed a deal for the 2026 season. Christian Horner’s decision to backtrack on keeping the six-time Grand Prix winner reflected how unsustainable Perez’s situation had become within the team.
Horner thought taking care of the contract would ease some pressure on Perez, but results didn’t improve. Over the next 16 rounds, he didn’t finish higher than sixth and went four races out of five without scoring a single point near the end of his stint with Red Bull.
Perez struggled at his home round too, qualifying P18 and finishing P17 as Verstappen started second at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Justin Bell described him as ‘traumatised’ by that performance.
Ted Kravitz also called out an ‘embarrassing’ moment during the Qatar Sprint later that year when Perez finished last again. Horner even said he needed to speak with him about it after another underwhelming run.
During that event, Colapinto overtook Perez coming out of the pit lane before the start. Both drivers weren’t lined up on the actual grid because Red Bull made changes to Perez’s car following a P16 qualifying effort.
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