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Motorsport

Is Sergio Perez the best option for Cadillac's F1 team in 2026?

Sergio Perez Cadillac F1 Graeme Lowdon Valtteri Bottas Motorsportcom Red Bull the Miami Grand Prix

As the Cadillac Formula 1 team gears up for a first public announcement at the Miami Grand Prix, rumours around Sergio Perez's comeback are increasing. Would the Mexican be a good pick for the American team?

Contrary to reports in Germany, Motorsport.com understands Perez to Cadillac is not a done deal just yet, with 2026's new entrant one of several options he is still holding conversations with. But, with preparations for Cadillac's F1 debut in full swing, it would make sense for the series' 11th team to start nailing down its driver line-up by the summer as it ramps up its 2026 car efforts at its ever-expanding Silverstone base.

Does Perez make sense for Cadillac?

Speaking to Motorsport.com at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon acknowledged his squad is out of sync with the rest of the paddock. By the time Cadillac and GM officially received approval to press ahead, over November's Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, most 2026 seats had already been filled, with a lot of teams preferring continuity between their 2025 and 2026 driver line-ups to smooth the introduction of the all-new technical regulations.

But the number of rookies on the grid this year does mean there are several experienced hands available who would be a huge asset to any start-up team. Former Red Bull racer Perez has been near the top of Cadillac's list for a while – and so he should be.

Aged 35, with 281 grand prix starts to his name, Perez has top team knowledge that would be a huge asset to Lowdon's operation. Yes, there is the matter of the Mexican's ignominious Red Bull exit, but he is far from the only driver to have struggled alongside Max Verstappen. One difficult stint doesn't negate the rest of his respectable career, including six wins, one of which was with Racing Point.

Commercially, Perez is also one of the most attractive names available, bringing significant backing from Mexican communications mogul Carlos Slim. It would also be a shot in the arm for the Mexico City Grand Prix, which has recently announced a three-year contract extension regardless of Perez's F1 future. Apart from direct Mexican backing, having a high-profile Mexican driver in one of its seats would clearly also be beneficial to Cadillac and General Motors as a North American brand.

Cadillac logo (Photo by: Cadillac Communications)

Does a Cadillac F1 return make sense for Perez?

Perez clearly struggled towards the end of his Milton Keynes stint, but drivers don't forget how to drive. The Guadalajara native has now been able to take a break to rebuild and reinvigorate himself. But does that mean a Cadillac F1 return would make sense to him?

"Once you step back, you realise how much you give up in life to be in the sport, so to be in F1 fully committed I need the motivation," Perez told the F1 website earlier this year. "If I find a project that motivates me fully to come back, where the team believe in me and where they appreciate my career, my experience and everything I can bring to a team, it would be very attractive to consider it."

Like any of us, Perez wants to feel valued by whoever courts him, as an integral pillar of the programme rather than a stop-gap solution until a more fancied prospect becomes available in 2027. Cadillac may well provide that, but there are still zero guarantees over how prepared the new entrant will be in 2026. Starting a new team from scratch is a huge undertaking, and it isn't hard to imagine the squad languishing towards the back for the first couple of seasons.

Is that the type of comeback Perez would feel motivated to trade in his family life for and embark on another F1 stint with 24-race seasons? That is a question only Perez can answer, and there are reportedly still other options on the table from more established teams that would carry less risk.

Who else could Cadillac sign?

In the experienced lead driver category, Perez would face competition from Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas. The Finn has repeatedly said he is angling to return to the grid in 2026 and that being part of Cadillac's project is of interest to him. Bottas has a similar profile in terms of race starts (246) and wins (10) and, while he is commercially less interesting than Perez, he has a great reputation in the paddock for his technical skills.

Cadillac's F1 team, which is part of Andretti Global's empire, also has a mission to bring an American driver onto the grid. The team's own IndyCar ace Colton Herta has been suggested as a possible candidate, as well as Aston Martin junior and F2 driver Jak Crawford. But, while Cadillac's 2026 driver line-up has often been presented as an American rookie paired with an experienced "foreigner" – for lack of a better word – Lowdon has hinted that the team may not necessarily go the American route from year one.

"We'll select drivers on merit," he told Motorsport.com. "Having a driver on merit doesn't mean you can't have an American passport as well. But also, you can't just judge an F1 team on what they're doing this year or next year. The team's here to stay.

"I think the fans would love to see an American driver in an American team. There's nothing stopping that from happening, but we've just got to go ahead and select on merit and build a team, because there are a few very experienced drivers available."

So, if Cadillac feels it is in its best interests to build up a team with two respected F1 veterans, it may well take both Perez and Bottas for the first few years until it is firmly settled and an American prospect it cannot overlook is ready to go.