Cadillac confirms Bottas and Pérez for debut 2026 F1 season

F1

Cadillac has officially unveiled Pérez and Bottas as its driver pairing for the brand’s debut in the 2026 F1 season

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez have now been confirmed as Cadillac's two F1 drivers next season. Here are the contracts in place, rumoured deals and who could end up where during silly season

Bottas and Perez will join forces at Cadillac

Cadillac

Cadillac has confirmed its first Formula 1 driver line-up, announcing that Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will lead the marque into the 2026 season when the American brand makes its debut.

The news finally ends speculation about Cadillac’s line-up and means the two drivers will return to racing after a year on the sidelines.

The team made the announcement with a short video narrated by Keanu Reeves.

The pairing boasts more than 500 grands prix between them, but both lost their drives at the end of the 2024 season.

Pérez, who made his Formula 1 debut in 2011, spent the last four seasons as Max Verstappen‘s teammate at Red Bull.

However, after a difficult 2024, the team decided to part ways early despite the Mexican having a contract to stay on in 2025.

The 35-year-old has spent 2025 away from racing ahead of his return to the grid with Cadillac next year.

“Joining Cadillac 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 honor to be part of a building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front. ”

Bottas, meanwhile, arrives at Cadillac following spells with Mercedes and Alfa Romeo/Sauber.

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The Finn contributed to multiple constructors’ titles at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton‘s teammate before he was replaced by George Russell.

Bottas, also 35, lost his Sauber drive after 2024 and rejoined Mercedes as its reserve driver for this year.

“From the moment I began speaking with Cadillac, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded,” said Bottas. “This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision. 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.

“I’ve had the honor of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.”

Cadillac’s arrival marks the first brand-new F1 entry since Haas joined the grid in 2016. It also means there will be 22 cars on the grid since 2014.

Former Virgin and Marussia boss Graeme Lowdon has been appointed as Cadillac’s first Formula 1 team boss.

Although General Motors’ in-house Formula 1 power unit is scheduled for introduction later in the decade, Cadillac will initially enter using Ferrari customer engines.

Cadillac’s 2026 campaign will begin at a time of significant regulatory change in F1, with the introduction of next-generation hybrid power units and an increased emphasis on sustainability.

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