Cadillac has finally lifted the lid on its first Formula 1 line-up. Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will drive for the American brand when it makes its debut in 2026. Both arrive on multi-year contracts, a clear signal this isn’t a short-term project.
Why Experience?
For more than a year, the driver market has known this was coming. Two new seats, fresh space on an overcrowded grid. For young talent, it looked like the opening they’d been waiting for.
But Cadillac went the other way. They didn’t gamble. They didn’t play the national card. They went for experience.
Pérez and Bottas bring 527 starts. They’ve stood on the podium over 100 times. Between them, they’ve taken 16 victories. That makes Cadillac’s line-up the third most experienced on the grid in 2026. Only Aston Martin and Ferrari can top that.
Dan Towriss, the team’s CEO, said it straight: “The unique experience both drivers bring put them at the top of our list. They were our first choice.”
Bottas: A Rebuilder
Bottas knows both sides of the sport. He cut his teeth with Williams in 2013, then stepped up to Mercedes during their years of domination. Ten wins. Two times runner-up in the world championship. Five straight constructors’ titles.
Then came the harder chapter at Sauber. No titles. No wins. Just the grind of leading a midfield outfit. His last year ended with zero points, but his Saturdays stayed sharp. He outqualified Zhou Guanyu 21–3, proof the pace was still there.
In 2025 Mercedes took him back as reserve. That kept him race-fit and visible. For Cadillac, it was a reminder of what he brings. A driver who knows how to win, knows how to survive, and still has the motivation to build.
“This feels like a long-term vision,” Bottas said. “It’s not every day you get the chance to build something from the start.”
Pérez: The Team of the Americas
Pérez comes at this from a different angle. His Red Bull career ended in 2024, his form fading as Verstappen surged. For the first time since 2011, he didn’t have a seat.
Now he’s back, with a different role.
He called Cadillac “the team of the Americas.” He spoke of uniting Mexico, Latin America and the United States under one banner. With his fanbase stretching across the region, he gives Cadillac instant profile.
His struggles at Red Bull were no secret. But Cadillac looked deeper. Towriss said they spoke with people inside the team to understand what went wrong. The conclusion was that Pérez still has the drive, but he needed the right environment.
Why Not Youth?
The market was full of options. Felipe Drugovich, a Formula 2 champion tied to Cadillac in sportscars. Jak Crawford, taking wins in F2 and climbing fast. Even Zhou Guanyu, linked to Lowdon.
But for year one, Cadillac went safe. A rookie would need time. They’d make mistakes. They’d need managing.
Bottas and Pérez remove that distraction. They’ll give steady feedback and set a baseline while the team concentrates on the car.
Building the Team
Cadillac’s entry isn’t being thrown together overnight. It’s a structured project, backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports.
Three bases will share the load. Fishers, Indiana will serve as headquarters. Charlotte, North Carolina will handle technical programmes tied to GM. Silverstone will be the race base, right in the heart of F1’s ecosystem.
By 2029 Cadillac plans to have its own power unit. Until then, Ferrari will provide engines. Towriss says development is already ahead of schedule.
Graeme Lowdon, the team boss, knows the scale of the challenge. “Any new team has to assume it will start at the back,” he said. “Otherwise, something has gone wrong for someone else.”
Why No American Driver?
From the beginning, the Andretti-Cadillac idea carried the dream of an all-American entry. An American car. An American engine. An American driver.
That last piece is not ready yet.
Colton Herta was the obvious option. But superlicence rules still block him. Jak Crawford was considered too, but timing was against him.
Towriss made it clear the ambition remains. “It’s important to create a pathway for an American driver into Formula One,” he said. “But for this first season, with what the team needs, this was the right combination.”
It is also worth noting how the language is used. Pérez has called Cadillac “the team of the Americas,” reflecting the wider continent that includes Mexico, Latin America and the United States. But in Formula 1 shorthand, when fans talk about an “American driver,” they almost always mean a driver from the United States. That is why Cadillac’s decision raised eyebrows, even though Mexico is geographically part of North America.
Both Have Something to Prove
For all the positives, neither Bottas nor Pérez arrives without questions.
Bottas finished his final Sauber year pointless. His qualifying numbers looked strong, but his race pace fell away.
Pérez’s Red Bull struggles were visible every weekend. As the car evolved toward Verstappen, his consistency evaporated.
Cadillac did its homework. Bottas’ Saturdays showed enough raw speed. Red Bull voices convinced them Pérez’s decline was down to the environment as much as the driver.
“We feel very good about Checo,” Towriss said. “His desire to prove himself again is very real.”
The Numbers
Valtteri Bottas
- 246 starts
- 10 wins
- 67 podiums
- 20 poles
- 19 fastest laps
- Best championship finish: 2nd (2019, 2020)
Sergio Pérez
- 281 starts
- 6 wins
- 39 podiums
- 3 poles
- 12 fastest laps
- Best championship finish: 2nd (2023)
Together they form one of the most experienced pairings on the 2026 grid.
What It Means
Cadillac could have rolled the dice. Chosen youth. Gone all-in on the American dream.
Instead, it went with security.
Bottas and Pérez might not be the future of Formula 1. But they are the foundation Cadillac needs. Drivers who bring structure, feedback and credibility from the very first race.
The 2026 season won’t be about chasing wins. It will be about proving Cadillac belongs. With Bottas and Pérez, they’ve given themselves the best possible chance.