In 2026, Cadillac will join the Formula 1 grid as the 11th team in the championship.
After months of speculation, the American outfit have finally revealed their driver line-up, and it is rich with experience – exactly what a new team needs.
Returning to the F1 grid will be Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, as Cadillac enter the sport in F1’s new era.
Bottas makes his way back to the grid
Valtteri Bottas is a 10-time race winner, and has finished as runner-up in the Drivers’ championship twice – in 2019, and 2020, behind Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
The Finn, who had previously raced for Williams made the switch from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo – now Kick Sauber – in 2022, before going seatless in 2025.
Sauber, who will soon be transitioning to Audi, sought change.
Bottas has spent the 2025 season back at Mercedes, this time serving as a reserve driver under his former boss Toto Wolff.
Adamant on getting back on the grid, the Finn’s plight has proven successful, as Cadillac have trusted his experience and skill.
READ MORE: Rising F1 star Oscar Piastri gets grandstand tribute at Australian GP
Perez handed another chance
Alongside Bottas will be Checo Perez, who, just like the Mercedes reserve driver, went from racing in 2024 to watching on the sidelines in 2025.
Perez is a six-time race winner, and finished P2 in the Drivers’ championship in the 2023 F1 season, behind Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.
The Mexican’s career spans from Sauber, to McLaren, to Force India/Racing Point and Red Bull.
Having raced for Red Bull between 2021 and 2024, Perez struggled to impress against Verstappen and was ultimately let go ahead of the 2025 F1 season, replaced by Liam Lawson, who was then replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.
Drivers optimistic about Cadillac’s vision
The pair have been given a chance to revive their F1 careers at Cadillac, an opportunity which should be exciting.
“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,” Bottas said, as quoted by F1.
Perez also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I couldn’t afford to leave the way I left the sport, you know, and this is why I’m coming back with this new project.
“And yeah, I hope it’s a very successful one. But amongst that, other than anything, I want to enjoy, to enjoy this comeback.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: US Open news: Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek join Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff in second round
A battle of ‘number twos’
Arguably, the most interesting aspect of this driver pairing will be the question it might answer; ‘Who is the better second driver?’
With Bottas having been second to Hamilton at Mercedes, and Perez second to Verstappen at Red Bull, this duo in the same team will spark debate.
The team to watch come Melbourne 2026 will definitely be Cadillac.
READ NEXT: Premier League Matchweek two: Liverpool prove title pedigree; Tottenham topple Man City
SportJustSport writers