Cadillac Just Announced Who Its First F1 Drivers Are

The American team announced that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will headline its first season, bringing decades of combined experience, race-winning pedigree, and insight into championship-calibre teams to the brand-new outfit. Both drivers were unveiled following months of speculation, with Cadillac banking on the pair's experience to guide its rookie F1 season.

Bottas, 36, has 246 grand prix starts to his name, along with 10 wins and 67 podiums, all earned during his time alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. After leaving Sauber at the end of the 2024 season, he returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver before being released from his obligations for a full-time comeback with Cadillac.

“I’ve had the honor of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here," said Bottas. "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.

"I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step.”

Perez, 35, comes to Cadillac after parting ways with Red Bull at the end of last year, after helping RedBull win consecutive constructors' championships in 2022 and 2023. A veteran of 281 starts, Perez has six career wins, including his breakthrough at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix with Racing Point, and 39 podium finishes overall. For the Mexican driver, the Cadillac seat represents a fresh start and a chance to help shape a team from the ground up.

“From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. It's an honor 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 1 is a huge responsibility, one I’m confident of taking on," said Perez in prepared remarks.

Whether the team can compete with established giants like Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull remains to be seen, but the new regulations for 2026 should at least help level the playing field.

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