Cadillac will join the Formula 1 grid next season, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas confirmed as the team’s debut line-up.
Team principal Graeme Lowdon has gone for experience, pairing two veterans to help the team get up to speed in their debut season.
If the current driver market holds steady, Perez and Bottas will form one of the most seasoned pairs on the grid, trailing only Aston Martin and Ferrari in combined race starts.
Cadillac have a lot to sort out before they hit the track in Australia, so having two experienced drivers is a smart move for their first year, when the main goal will be to stay competitive and not fall behind early.
Perez’s time at Red Bull ended quietly enough, while Bottas wrapped up his stint with Sauber without much fanfare either. Lewis Hamilton knows what that feels like after how things finished up at Mercedes before he moved to Ferrari, where he is now struggling.
But as F1 heads into another regulation shift, Perez believes the Briton could be set for a strong return – something Ferrari fans will be eager to hear.
Sergio Perez backs Lewis Hamilton to ‘figure it out’ at Ferrari next season
Speaking on The F1 Show following Cadillac’s announcement, Perez responded to Pat Symonds’ comments about Hamilton’s potential for improvement in 2026 by saying: “I think this era of cars that we are currently in with the ground effect cars.
“It’s been tricky, but obviously, I think with Lewis, you’ve seen it, he’s done a tremendous job at Mercedes when they didn’t have that competitive car.
“I think for him, at the end of an era, to be changing teams and getting to adapt has been tricky, but obviously he’s a fantastic driver, and for sure he’ll figure it out.
“I think we’ve seen it with many different drivers that it’s all about adapting a car into a driving style, that sometimes it just takes a little bit longer than others.
“I’ve done well in previous eras, so yeah, I do expect that the new regulations will suit my style.”
Lewis Hamilton’s future at Ferrari may hinge on their 2026 power unit
The new aerodynamic regulations coming in next year could play out in different ways for Hamilton. Back before ground effect came into play, flat floors seemed to suit his late braking approach better.
While there have been complaints from Hamilton regarding Ferrari’s brake supplier this season, the upcoming changes might address some of his current issues. However, there is growing talk around the paddock that whichever team has the strongest power unit could have a clear advantage in 2026.
The paddock chatter suggests Ferrari’s engine may not be matching up to Mercedes’, which could make Hamilton’s move look questionable if performance gaps widen next year.
Fred Vasseur will surely be pleased that Perez believes Hamilton can return to his peak performance, especially given their long history of competing against each other.
If you look at how things are shaping up for both drivers ahead of next season, a lot would need to change between now and then for them to find themselves battling on track again soon.
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