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Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez Confirmed as Cadillac F1 Drivers in 2026

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 8:15 AM ET

In a move that instantly reshapes the 2026 grid, Cadillac has confirmed veteran race winners Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as the new driver duo for its debut Formula 1 campaign. The pairing ends months of speculation and gives the new American outfit an experienced backbone as it prepares to join F1 next year.

Bottas and Perez bring a combined resume built for the long haul, multiple GP victories, hundreds of race starts and championship paddock experience that Cadillac says will speed its learning curve.

The Finnish and Mexican stars have both been praised for their technical feedback and race craft, qualities Cadillac’s leadership says are critical while the team finalises its facilities and powertrain plans.

Cadillac will enter the championship as the 11th team in 2026 and will begin its campaign as a Ferrari-powered customer while GM’s own power unit programme accelerates toward full supplier status later in the decade.

The move to use established hardware initially lowers short-term risk and lets Cadillac concentrate on chassis development and team structure.

For Bottas and Perez, the deal offers a chance to shape a team from the ground up — and to return to the kind of on-track leadership roles that made them household names. The signings give Cadillac instant marketing pull in Mexico and Finland, a stronger sales story for sponsors and investors, and an experienced on-track voice to quicken development.

Cadillac’s management says it wants experienced hands to mentor a future pipeline of drivers, including American talent, while it builds toward a works programme.

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Expect this announcement to dominate the paddock narrative for days: Cadillac has just signalled it’s serious about instant credibility, and signing two proven winners is a fast way to grab headlines while real work of engineering a new F1 challenger begins.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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