Cadillac have confirmed the driver pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez ahead of the American automobile giant’s Formula 1 entry in 2026, Afrosport reports.
Both drivers are absent from the F1 grid for the ongoing 2025 season, having lost their seats at Sauber and Red Bull Racing, respectively.
Bottas is currently a reserve driver with Mercedes, where he raced alongside Lewis Hamilton between 2017 and 2021, making 101 race starts, claiming 10 victories, 20 pole positions, 21 fastest laps and 67 podium finishes.
“From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded,” the 35-year-old Finnish driver said per the F1 website. “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 honour of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.
“This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me. I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step.”
Perez, meanwhile, won five races from 90 starts for Red Bull between 2021 and 2024, claiming three pole positions, eight fastest laps and 29 podiums.
“Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career,” the 35-year-old Mexican said. “From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project.
“It’s an honour to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front. Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a huge responsibility, one I’m confident of taking on.
“I’m proud to be part of such an ambitious and meaningful project from the very beginning. I’m really pleased to be part of such a dynamic line-up, and together I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender, the team of the Americas. We’re counting on support from across the continent – and we want to make everyone proud.”
Valtteri 🤝 Checo@Cadillac_F1 teammates in 2026 👊#F1 pic.twitter.com/IkpdRvflk4
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 26, 2025
Cadillac will enter as the 11th F1 team next year when new technical regulations kick in.
