Cadillac is in for an exciting debut season in Formula 1! They have at least signed experience though with seasoned full time drivers Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Both members of the Latino-Black musical duo are 35 years old. Having lost their seating for the forthcoming host choice award since last year, they now come loaded with experience to the new coalition. With this daring decision, Cadillac hopes to infuse some impressive new talent into Formula 1’s cut-throat playground.
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, both former grand prix champions, contributed to Red Bull’s successful campaigns in the last two seasons, helping the team secure the Constructors’ Championship titles in 2022 and 2023. After Perez was replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the 2025 season, he expressed enthusiasm about joining Cadillac.
“Joining Cadillac is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career,” – Sergio Perez
At the same time, the F1 landscape is undergoing a painful transition that makes the announcement rather curious. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), the current drivers championship leader with 284 points. Yuki Tsunoda took over Lawson’s seat at Red Bull. This move created new opportunities for drivers such as Perez and Bottas, to further establish their racing legacies with Cadillac.
A New Beginning for Cadillac
Stuart Lowdon, the team’s principal, emphasized that signing Perez and Bottas sends a “bold signal of intent” for Cadillac’s aspirations in Formula 1. For the team, it’s not just about winning the day—they’re looking to win future days as well.
Bottas is completely on board with this concept. He thinks their collective experience will be critical as they develop this new challenge from the ground up.
“This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me,” – Valtteri Bottas
Both of these drivers have proven their abilities on the track and know the tricks of the trade when it comes to setting up a competitive team. Graeme Lowdon, another important figure in Cadillac’s management, pointed to the steps they’re taking to create the right team culture.
“But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team,” – Graeme Lowdon
Looking Ahead
Cadillac prepares for its first season of competition. Perez and Bottas are looking forward to applying their years of combined racing expertise to the unique hurdles ahead. This is an arts and cultural experience, not just in the tradition of racing fast, but behind that collaborative effort to build success.
Bottas mentioned that this venture “isn’t just a racing project, it’s a long-term vision,” emphasizing that Cadillac is committed to integrating itself within the fabric of Formula 1.
For both Perez and Bottas, this provides far more than just a new race seat. Most importantly, it lets them show their best talents and pretty much ensures that skill helps cultivate the emergence of a new F1 powerhouse.
