BREAKING: Cadillac Announces Driver Lineup

Matt Hylen
Aug 26
2 min read

Valtteri Bottas (left) and Sergio Perez (right). C/O to F1 Media via formula1.com

Well, we finally got the answers we've been looking for!

On Tuesday, August 26th, F1's new addition, Cadillac, announced that its driver lineup will consist of two very experienced drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Both Perez and Bottas will make their return to F1 after failing to fill a seat for a team in 2025.

Bottas will be driving for his 5th different team in F1 (Williams 2013-2016, Mercedes 2017-2021, Alfa Romeo 2022-2023, and Sauber 2023-2024), while Cadillac will be Perez's 6th team (Sauber 2011-2012, McLaren 2013, Force India 2014-2018, Racing Point 2019-2020, and Red Bull 2021-2024).

When a team is starting from scratch, like Cadillac is doing, it is crucial to have two drivers whose talent is evident and who will invest in the project long-term. With the new 2026 regulations making the packing order even more unpredictable, having two drivers who have been through multiple regulation transitions will also provide stability that will benefit them in the long run.

Not only that, but both Perez and Valtteri, who are best known for being the #2 drivers on dominant teams, can provide Cadillac with much-needed experience and knowledge inside and out of the car as the team navigates the harsh waters that come with being a new team.

As for Perez and Bottas, their situations are almost identical. They are both in their mid-thirties but still have something left in the tank. With the rest of the teams unlikely to make any major lineup changes, joining Cadillac was both drivers' best opportunity to invest in a project that will be centered around them and to give them a spot in the sport long-term (if they perform to expectation, that is).

Cadillac's road to success will take time, as it would for any other team entering the sport for the first time and starting from scratch. It may take a year or two for the team to get settled into the sport, which may impact their immediate results. So, instead of going with a younger lineup, or a common strategy of choosing one experienced driver and one younger driver, Cadillac chose two drivers whom they can trust, which I believe is the right move.

Bottas and Pérez, throughout their entire careers, have never been given a proper opportunity to succeed. Sure, they have driven some of the greatest F1 cars ever made, but they were not made for them. Bottas and Pérez have had to be the sidekicks for as long as they have been in the sport. Joining Cadillac ensures that both Pérez and Bottas will be valued and will finally have a car that is built around them rather than the teammate they are backing up.