The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has officially announced its driver lineup for the highly anticipated 2026 F1 season, confirming ex-Mercedes-AMG, ex-Sauber, and current Mercedes F1 reserve driver Valtteri Bottas, alongside ex-Red Bull Racing grand prix winner Sergio Pérez. This strategic decision, which follows extensive speculation, signals Cadillac's commitment to prioritizing massively experienced F1 veterans as it embarks on building its all-new grand prix racing team from the ground up.

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss emphasized the critical role of experience in this new venture. “We believe [Bottas’ and Pérez’s] experience, their leadership, and their technical acumen are really what we need,” Towriss stated during a call with reporters. He acknowledged the tough decision, given the exciting pool of young talent available, but concluded that the veterans’ experience and leadership ultimately stood out. This approach is further supported by Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, who added, “Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent. They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula One. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team.”

The choice of seasoned drivers means that several potential signings, including former F1 racers Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu, as well as aspiring F1 rookies like five-time Formula 2 race winner Jak Crawford, Felipe Drugovich, and Frederik Vesti (who now have Cadillac sports car racing ties), will have to wait for future opportunities. This decision, while predictable for an upstart F1 team, may fuel social media criticism regarding the lack of open rides for the new generation of single-seater racing talent, a frustration shared by many fans and qualified drivers.

Upstart F1 teams historically struggle for competitiveness in their formative years against established outfits. However, with F1 introducing a new engine and chassis formula in 2026, the playing field might level slightly due to an engineering reset across all teams. These significant technological changes—including smaller cars, active aerodynamics, and more electrically generated horsepower—present an opportunity for a competitive shakeup. In this context, drivers with vast experience in development processes and car setup, like Bottas and Pérez, are considered the safest bet. Cadillac will initially use customer Ferrari engines and gearboxes, with plans to develop their own for 2029.

Valtteri Bottas, a 10-time Grand Prix winner, returns to a race seat after a year as a reserve driver at Mercedes. Sergio Pérez, a six-time Grand Prix winner, was without a job after being dropped by Red Bull at the end of last season. Both drivers are 35 years old and, on paper, possess the desired knowledge base in spades. Towriss addressed concerns about Pérez’s pure-pace reputation following a challenging end to his Red Bull career, in a car widely acknowledged as incredibly difficult to drive for anyone not named Max Verstappen. He confirmed extensive discussions with Red Bull personnel and Pérez himself, who “outperformed” in their meetings, answering all skepticism with flying colors and expressing a strong desire to make a statement and prove his performance.

General Motors president Mark Reuss echoed the importance of experienced individuals, noting, “The technical development of the team and the car and the powertrain with experienced people that have been on these tracks—you can simulate and use tools up to a point, but it becomes very human in terms of their ability to stretch the limits with a car that they have confidence in.” He highlighted the extraordinary importance of technical back-and-forth between the team and drivers, especially given their winning records. Combined, Bottas and Pérez bring 26 years of F1 experience, 16 wins, and have participated in 532 races (527 starts), accumulating over 100 podiums between them.

Regarding an American driver, Towriss stated, “We certainly do think about that, and it’s important to us to make sure there’s a pathway for an American driver into Formula 1, and we’ll be working on that. But I think for this inaugural season for what the team needs … this was the right combination for our team.” The multi-year contracts for Bottas and Pérez are expected to run for at least two or three years, likely with various options and performance clauses.

The Cadillac F1 effort is a partnership with U.S.-based TWG Motorsports, headed by CEO Towriss, which also holds stakes in American motorsports entities Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing. Graeme Lowdon serves as Cadillac F1’s team principal. Towriss firmly squashed rumors about recently dismissed Red Bull Racing CEO Christian Horner joining the team, stating, “There have been no talks with Christian Horner. No plans to do that. So I’d like to officially shut down that rumor. Our support, belief, and backing are 100 percent in Graeme Lowdon.”

Both drivers expressed immense excitement about joining Cadillac. Pérez remarked, “From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. It’s an honour to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front. Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula One is a huge responsibility, one I'm confident of taking on.” Bottas added, “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.” Pérez further expressed a desire to make it “the team of the Americas,” counting on continent-wide support.

Cadillac F1 expects to put its first-ever grand prix car on the track during preseason testing in late January 2026, with the team’s branding and livery making their debut appearances in February. The Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 6–8, will open the 2026 F1 calendar, marking Cadillac’s official entry as the 11th team.