Pérez And Bottas To Drive For Cadillac In 2026

Formula 1 is about to get a bold new player. In 2026, Cadillac will roar onto the grid as the sport’s 11th team, backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports. And in a move that raised eyebrows across the paddock, the American marque has signed two comeback kings: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez.

Between them, they bring 16 victories, 500-plus starts, and the kind of grit only years in the fire can forge. Cadillac isn’t chasing rookies or hype. It’s betting on battle-hardened pros to steer its debut. Bottas, the 10-time race winner who once played wingman at Mercedes, sees Cadillac as his shot at proving there’s still fuel left in the tank. His return, however, starts with a handicap—a five-place grid drop from 2024 ensures he won’t qualify higher than sixth in his debut.

For Checo, the story runs deeper. After a turbulent Red Bull exit in 2024, the Mexican star calls Cadillac “my last great F1 project.” With six wins and 39 podiums, he’s less focused on proving critics wrong and more on shaping something lasting. In Mexico, his comeback has already reignited “Checomanía,” a wave of fan frenzy that Cadillac will be eager to harness.

The team itself is built with serious intent. Former Marussia chief Graeme Lowdon leads as team principal, with technical firepower from ex-Enstone veterans like Pat Symonds and Nick Chester. Cadillac will start with Ferrari engines before pushing toward its power unit by 2030. Three pre-season tests—triple the norm—are planned to fast-track development. The pairing works because both drivers know the drill—no egos, no rookie mistakes—just experience, feedback, and teamwork. As Bottas put it, “We don’t need to prove anything. The team comes first.”

Cadillac won’t be chasing wins right away. Success will be finishing races, closing gaps, and building trust. But with Bottas and Checo at the wheel, the rookie outfit already feels more like a statement than an experiment. Formula 1 has seen bold entries before—but rarely one with this blend of pedigree, ambition, and fire. Cadillac’s gamble may not rewrite the podium overnight, but it’s guaranteed to make 2026 unmissable.