Nico Hulkenberg is confident Sergio Perez will return to Formula 1 next year as a better driver thanks to taking a sabbatical in 2025 following his Red Bull sacking at the end of 2024.
Cadillac announced on Tuesday that Perez and Valtteri Bottas will form its driver line-up for when the American outfit makes its F1 debut in 2026.
It marks a return to the championship for Perez, who has been without a seat this year as has Mercedes reserve Bottas following his departure from Sauber at the end of last season.
Hulkenberg thinks the sabbatical will have served Perez well, having done something similar when the German was without a full-time seat from 2020 to 2022 before returning with Haas and now Sauber.
“I think it's slightly different, I obviously had quite a lot of time out,” said Hulkenberg. “Three years instead of one. It all depends how competitive their package will be also - it's all linked to that.
"But I think it was probably positive and refreshing for him to disconnect and to watch it all with some good distance from the comfort of your couch at home. It's quite an interesting experience.
"So, I'm sure it was good for him and that he feels...well, I know that he feels charged and still ready to go.”
Hulkenberg’s thoughts were echoed by Esteban Ocon, who reckons Cadillac will benefit from hiring two grand prix winners that have both been in F1 since the early 2010s.
“I think with such level of experience, it shouldn't take them too long to get back up to speed - they've had hundreds of races,” said Haas driver Ocon, who was Perez’s team-mate at Force India across 2017 and 2018.
“They know how a team works. They know how Formula 1 works. And also we're going to have much more testing before we get back to racing with a new era of cars.
“So everybody's going to learn. And that's going to be easier for the guys coming back than normal. If you just take the train while it's still moving.”
Max Verstappen, who was Perez's Red Bull team-mate from 2021 to 2024, believes the Mexican's poor final year with the team will not define him as a driver
"It's a fresh start now," he said. "I think also from his side, just one half of the season doesn't define what you can do, right. Some people maybe dwell on it a bit more. For Checo, it's a new start. You're excited. New cars, completely new cars also.
"And he has shown a lot of great things even before he got to Red Bull, during the Red Bull time. So, yeah, just needs to go in there, enjoy it again, and have a good time."
Perez himself reckons Cadillac will be his “last major project in Formula 1” with the six-time grand prix winner being 36-years-old by the time next season begins.
“Finishing my career here would be incredible,” he said. “If I can help make it one of the most successful teams in the future, that would be incredible. Time will tell. For me, it will be important to see rapid progress.”
Additional reporting by Stuart Codling and Luis Ramirez
