New Formula One participant Cadillac has signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as their drivers for their debut campaign in 2026.
The experienced duo both returns after a year away from the web, where Perez has been axed by Red Bull at the end of a disappointing campaign of 2024, just months after he signed a contract extension with the Milton Keynes troop.
Bottas, who drove with Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, has served as Silver Arrows’ reserve driver in the 2025 season after Sauber chose not to renew his expiry agreement at the end of 2024.
Sky Sports News Understand that they have both signed multi -year contracts.
In both cases, it was originally unclear whether their F1 careers were over, but Cadillac’s clear desire for experience in the cockpit has given them each other in Motorsport’s elite category.
Team Rector Graeme Lowdon declared the double signing of a “bold intention signal”, while CEO Dan Towriss said: “This moment marks more than just a line-up message. That’s the beginning of a bold new chapter in American Motorsport.”
Lowdon added: “They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in the formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team.
“Their leadership, feedback, racial instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable when we bring this team to life.”
Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle believes that the signing of the duo is a good move from Cadillac, although he warned the team can take the time to gel.
“It’s a fantastic driver’s lineup,” he wrote at X. “The team needs experience and direction this year one, and cannot afford to have rookies that damage cars when all the resources will be heavily stretched.
“They will probably have to park their early frustrations when the team is underway, especially with such a dramatic reset of regulation.”
‘A huge responsibility’ – Perez hopes to build Cadillac for ‘The Team of the Americas’
Many people expected Cadillac to enter F1 as the Sport’s 11 team with US car manufacturer General Motors to sign at least one US driver, but the new clothing has chosen to pair drivers with a total amount of 527 starts, 106 podium and 16 race wins.
Perez, 35, will contest its 15th season in F1. The six-time Grand Prix winner has also previously driven to Sauber, McLaren, Force India and Racing Point and claimed a career-best second-placed driver’s championship finish behind teammate Max Verstappen when Red Bull won the constructor’s title in 2023.
“Participating in the Cadillac Formula 1 team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career,” Perez said.
“From our first conversations, I could feel passion and determination behind this project. It is an honor to be part of building a team that can develop together so that over time we will fight completely ahead.
“Cadillac is a legendary name in American Motorsport, and helping to bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 a huge responsibility, one, I’m sure to take on me.
“I’m proud to be part of such an ambitious and meaningful project Right from the beginning. I’m really happy to be part of such a dynamic line-up, and together I think we can help shape this team into a real competitor, the team in America. We expect support from the entire continent – and we will make everyone proud. “
‘It’s a long -lasting vision’ – Botta’s excited by Cadillac Challenge
Bottas, who turns 36 on Thursday, began his F1 career with Williams in 2013, before being paired with Hamilton in 2017.
Finn has 10 Grand Prix victories and 20 pole positions for his name and ended up in second place for Hamilton in the driver’s championship in 2019 and 2020. He spent three seasons with Sauber after being replaced by George Russell at Mercedes.
“From the moment I started talking to the Cadillac Formula 1 team, I felt something else – something ambitious, but also grounded,” Bottas said.
“This is not 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 built from scratch and help shape it into something that really belongs on the F1 grille.
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Look back on Valtteri Bottas’ best victories from his time at Mercedes
“I’ve had the honor 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 great legacy in American Motorsport, and being part of the story when it enters the world scene in F1 is incredibly special to me.”
Analysis: Cadillac secure their top goals – with points to prove
Sergio Perez (L) and Valtteri Bottas will be teammates on F1’s newest team
Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater Reporting from Cadillacs Silverstone HQ:
“The team says they did a proper and thorough search to decide who should run for them next year, but in the end they are happy to announce that they have achieved their top two goals.
“As for Bottas, we understand that other teams were interested in signing him too, with Alpine, who is particularly interested in exploring the prospect of him driving for them. But he has chosen to come here with Cadillac and he and Perez will be quite a formidable mating.
“Bottas and Perez have both been out of Formula One competition for this year, but leadership in this team is not entirely horrified by it; they think both have something to prove on their competitive returns.
“Both have talked about how excited they are of this new project and that they have already bought in, as they describe it, the spirit of the team.
“Do they want the car to perform to the best of our abilities? It’s a big question with what’s a new clothes that are racing against time to make a car for the first before-season test, but they say they’re on target and now we know who will be in that car.”
Formula 1 returns after the summer holidays with the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort on August 29-31, Live Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports With Now – No Contract, Cancel anytime