Cadillac choose experience over hype for 2026 F1 driver lineup

Photo Credit: Cadillac F1 Team

So much speculation has been made about which two drivers would represent Cadillac when the team debuts in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Would they go for experience? Would they go for youth? Would they sign an American driver? Would they go for popular names who haven’t had much success in F1? Fans finally got their answer on Tuesday.

Cadillac chose experience.

The team announced the signings of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez on Tuesday morning, forming its driver lineup for 2026.

"Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo [Sergio Perez] is a bold signal of intent,” said Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowden.

"They've seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life. A big thank you to the team at Mercedes for their co-operation and understanding."

Reports of Perez joining Cadillac surfaced on August 12, with a contract said to have been agreed upon. The Bottas news came just days before Cadillac’s official announcement on Tuesday, which was highlighted by an introductory video voiced over by actor Keanu Reeves.

The Bottas and Perez duo will become one of the most experienced driver lineups on the F1 grid next season. The two have a combined 16 wins in 527 Grand Prix.

Bottas has been serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver this season after leaving Sauber in 2024. The 35-year-old began his F1 career with Williams in 2013, recording nine podium finishes for the team. He moved to Mercedes in 2017 and spent five seasons racing alongside seven-time World Drivers’ Champion Lewis Hamilton. Bottas won 10 races with Mercedes, the only Grand Prix wins of his decade-long career. While at Mercedes, the Finn finished second in the World Drivers’ Championship in 2019 and 2020, and won the World Constructors’ Championship in all five of his years with the Silver Arrows.

The 35-year-old then joined Alfa Romeo/Sauber in 2022, where he collected just 59 points in 68 race starts. Across his 11-year F1 career, Bottas has amassed 1,797 points, started 246 races, finished on the podium 67 times, finished on pole 20 times, and won 10 Grand Prix.

"From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different -- something ambitious but also grounded," said Valtteri Bottas. "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."

Joining Botas at Cadillac is 14-year F1 veteran Perez.

Perez was a free agent this season after being replaced at Red Bull for 2025. The 35-year-old joined Red Bull in 2021 to be the teammate of four-time World Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen. Perez is a six-time Grand Prix winner, with five race wins coming with Red Bull. In four seasons with the team, the Mexican recorded 932 points, 29 podiums, and three pole positions. Perez finished second in the World Drivers’ Championship in 2023.

Before becoming a big name at Red Bull, Perez spent a decade overperforming in midfield cars. He began his career with Sauber from 2011-2012 before joining McLaren for one season in 2013. He spent the next chapter of his career racing for Force India/Racing Point. Perez would record his first win in 2020, his final year with the team. Perez has 1,638 points, 281 race starts, 39 podium finishes, and three pole positions, to go along with his six wins.

"Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career. From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project," said Sergio Perez.

"It's an honor to be part of a 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."

There were other names to choose from, but no one with as much F1 experience as Bottas and Perez.

Cadillac did have talks with Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time World Drivers’ Champion Michael Schumacher. The younger Schumacher spent the last two seasons as Mercedes’ reserve driver and has spent this season racing for the Alpine Endurance Team in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Schumacher has two years of F1 racing experience. He drove for Haas in 2021 and 2022, recording 12 points in 43 race starts.

The American-based F1 team was also exploring the idea of signing an American driver.

The last American to be on the F1 grid was Florida native Logan Sargeant for Williams. Sargeant scored one point in 36 race starts and was replaced halfway through last season.

The two Americans who were potential choices for Cadillac were Jak Crawford and Colton Herta. Crawford races in Formula 2 and Herta races in IndyCar; neither has F1 experience. Both Americans, along with Schumacher, could be looked at to fill Cadillac’s reserve driver role.

Bottas and Perez will make their debuts for Cadillac when the 2026 F1 season kicks off in Australia next March.