The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has officially announced its driver lineup for its inaugural 2026 F1 season, confirming experienced veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as its two race drivers. This strategic decision, following considerable speculation and leaks, highlights Cadillac's commitment to prioritizing extensive Formula 1 experience, leadership, and technical acumen for its entry into grand prix racing. Both Bottas, who previously raced for Mercedes-AMG and Sauber, and Pérez, a grand prix winner with Red Bull Racing, bring a formidable collective of 26 years of F1 experience, 16 wins, and 532 races (527 starts) to the newly formed American team.

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss elaborated on the rationale behind selecting these seasoned drivers over promising young talents or those seeking a return to the grid, such as Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu, and rising stars like Jak Crawford, Felipe Drugovich, and Frederik Vesti. Towriss stated, “We believe [Bottas’ and Pérez’s] experience, their leadership, and their technical acumen are really what we need. It’s the right combination, the right drivers at the right time.” He acknowledged the vibrant pool of young talent but emphasized that the veterans' experience and leadership were the decisive factors in a challenging selection process.

This approach is particularly pragmatic for an upstart F1 team, given the historical struggles of new entrants to be competitive against established outfits. With a new engine and chassis formula set for 2026, which includes smaller cars, active aerodynamics, and more electrically generated horsepower, every team faces an engineering reset. However, drivers with vast experience in developing cars and powertrains, and understanding the processes of successful teams, are typically considered the most valuable assets. Cadillac plans to use customer Ferrari engines and gearboxes initially, with its own power units slated to arrive for 2029, making the developmental insight from Bottas and Pérez crucial.

Both Towriss and General Motors president Mark Reuss expressed strong confidence in their chosen drivers. Reuss highlighted the critical role of