F1 News: Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez Confirmed As Cadillac's First Drivers In 2026 - Check Details

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez have been confirmed as the drivers for Cadillac's new Formula One team in 2026, marking a return to the grid for both veterans after a year away from racing.

Neither Bottas nor Perez competed in 2025, having been released from their previous teams at the end of 2024.

Cadillac's parent company, General Motors, cited the pair's wealth of experience, including race wins and podiums, as key to their selection.

Mark Reuss, president of GM, believes that by virtue of their proven F1 track records, Bottas and Perez are "a really good winning combination".

Bottas, who turns 36 later this week, won 10 races with Mercedes between 2017 and 2021 while partnered with Lewis Hamilton, and secured 20 pole positions. He last raced in 2024 for Sauber and is currently a reserve driver for Mercedes.

Perez, meanwhile, boasts six career wins - five with Red Bull between 2021 and 2024 and one with Racing Point (now known as Aston Martin) in 2020. He was dropped by Red Bull at the end of last season after a disappointing second half to the year.

Dan Towriss, CEO of GM's partner TWG Global, revealed that Cadillac had toyed with the idea of bringing in younger drivers before finalising this line-up.

"Their experience, leadership and technical acumen are what we need," Towriss said. "We're humbled by their belief in us and this project.

"There is a young pool of drivers who are exciting and very talented, so it was a tough decision. But it was the leadership of these two drivers that stood out."

Towriss also confirmed that Cadillac does wish to feature an American driver in the future, but emphasised that proven F1 experience is the priority for the team's debut season.

"What it comes down to is experience in F1 that carried the day. Despite the experience on the team, everybody is new and working together for the first time.

"It is important to us to make sure there is a pathway for an American driver into F1, but for this inaugural season, this was the right combination."

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon has also set realistic expectations for the rookie team, admitting that they expect to be back-of-the-pack next year.

"Can you imagine if you've owned a Formula 1 team for 10 years and then another team rocks up and beats you? You would be apoplectic," Lowdon explained.

"You would be so annoyed. And so you have to assume that any new team coming in is going to be last, you know, otherwise, you know, what's gone wrong somewhere else?"

Bottas expressed excitement at joining such a young outfit, believing that they are "ambitious but also grounded".

"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.

"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."

Perez, meanwhile, is keen to take on the responsibility of racing in Cadillac's debut season.

"From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project," the Mexican said.

"To help bring such a fantastic company to F1 is a huge responsibility, one I'm confident of taking on."