Shock F1 comeback: Sergio Pérez and Valterri Bottas sign with Cadillac for 2026 — no American drivers chosen

Cadillac is joining Formula 1 in 2026 as the sport’s 11th team, backed by General Motors and led by former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon. The team announced Sergio “Checo” Pérez and Valtteri Bottas as their drivers, both on multi-year deals. Together they have 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 wins, as per the Formula1 report.

Lowdon said signing two veterans “is a bold signal of intent,” adding their leadership and race instincts will be key in building the team. He also thanked Mercedes for cooperating on Bottas’s release. Both drivers, now 35, lost their F1 seats last season. Pérez left Red Bull and took time off with family, while Bottas became Mercedes reserve after leaving Sauber.

Perez and Bottas bring big F1 experience

Pérez brings big experience from Sauber, McLaren, Force India/Racing Point and Red Bull, where he helped win the 2022 and 2023 Teams’ Championships. Pérez called joining Cadillac “an exciting new chapter,” saying Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport and he wants to help make the team “a real contender, the team of the Americas”, as stated by Formula1.


Bottas, who won five constructors’ titles with Mercedes from 2017–2021, said Cadillac feels “ambitious but grounded” and called it special to join a project “built from the ground up”. He thanked Mercedes for supporting his move, and said Cadillac represents “the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world”.

According to the report by Formula1, Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss said Pérez and Bottas bring “talent, maturity and drive,” calling them not just racers but “builders” who will define what the team stands for. GM President Mark Reuss said both drivers bring passion and experience and will help build a “foundation for American motorsports” with Cadillac in F1.

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Why Cadillac skipped American drivers

ESPN reported that Cadillac wanted experience for its debut under new 2026 rules. The team said Pérez and Bottas bring “unmatched experience, leadership and technical acumen” Other names like Zhou Guanyu and Mick Schumacher were considered, but Cadillac was set on Pérez and Bottas from early talks.

Bottas had only one other serious option, Alpine, but Cadillac offered him a better long-term project. He even teased his interest earlier with a video showing a Cadillac Escalade, calling it a “nice seat”. Pérez was initially unsure about returning after being dropped by Red Bull. He enjoyed a year traveling with family, attending football matches, and vacationing — but still followed F1 closely, as per the report by Formula1.

He considered Alpine as an option but their driver situation was unclear, and Cadillac’s firm multi-year deal was more secure. Both Pérez and Bottas have “a point to prove” — Pérez wants to bounce back after Red Bull struggles, while Bottas gets a second chance after tough Sauber years. Cadillac did not pick an American driver despite earlier hints. ESPN explained in its report, that the U.S. driver pool is too small, with limited F1 experience and Super License points making it difficult.

Colton Herta and Josef Newgarden such IndyCar stars were mentioned, but neither fit the requirements. Logan Sargeant lost his Williams seat, and youngster Jak Crawford may still get a test/development role. Haas also joined F1 in 2016 without an American driver, showing how hard it is to place local talent without F2/F3 experience in Europe.

Michael Andretti once promised an American driver when planning the project, but after GM took bigger control and Andretti stepped back, that idea faded. Mario Andretti, America’s last F1 winner and world champion (1978), is on Cadillac F1’s board. The team still hopes to bring an American driver in the future, as per ESPN report.

FAQs

Q1. Who are the drivers for Cadillac’s Formula 1 team in 2026?
Cadillac signed Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas on multi-year deals to lead their debut F1 season in 2026.

Q2. Why did Cadillac not choose an American driver for Formula 1?
Cadillac picked Pérez and Bottas for their experience, as the U.S. driver pool lacks enough F1-ready talent right now.