Cadillac is heading into Formula 1 with a bold two-driver lineup for 2026, naming Sergio “Checo” Perez and Valtteri Bottas as its race performers. The announcement came from Dan Towriss, CEO of the Cadillac F1 team and TWG Motorsports, alongside GM’s Mark Reuss, on a Tuesday morning briefing.
The new team principal emphasized the value of experience and leadership. “Their experience and leadership are what we needed,” Towriss said. “We couldn’t be more excited to take the next step with them.” Perez, long familiar to Red Bull Racing fans as Max Verstappen’s former teammate, has been outside the F1 grid since Red Bull terminated his contract at the end of 2024. The 35-year-old made his debut in 2011. Bottas, also 35, spent 2025 as a Mercedes reserve after losing his Sauber seat for the 2025 season; he originally began his F1 career in 2013 and spent five seasons as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes, helping the team win multiple constructors’ championships.
The two drivers bring a combined 106 podiums to the project, underscoring Cadillac’s intention to pair veteran experience with the new venture. “We’ve never done F1 before,” Reuss noted, adding that the drivers are “very important” to the nascent program. Towriss elaborated that Cadillac evaluated many candidates and compiled a detailed dossier; Bottas and Perez were their first choice, and the team is reportedly humbled by the drivers’ belief in Cadillac’s project.
While Perez’s 2024 season with Red Bull was not his best—he finished with substantially fewer points than Verstappen—Towriss said the discussions with Perez revealed a driver capable of thriving under Cadillac’s testing standards. “In our meetings with him, he outperformed. We had questions and skepticism, [but] Perez answered all of our questions, passing our tests with flying colors,” he stated. He also addressed online rumors about Christian Horner potentially joining Cadillac, firmly stating there have been no talks with Horner and debunking the chatter.
Turn the calendar forward to 2026, and the landscape shifts: the Australian Grand Prix in March will mark the season opener, while Bottas and Perez will begin testing in January before Cadillac’s official car debut in early February. Both drivers have signed multi-year deals, and Graeme Lowden was named team principal last December as Cadillac Ventures into F1.
Cadillac is not new to high-level motorsport, having built a substantial portfolio across IMSA and the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The brand’s presence is already felt in endurance racing: the Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA squad claimed pole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, and Cadillac enjoyed a 1-2 podium finish in the Hypercar class at the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo in July. The marque sits second in the FIA World Endurance Championship standings, illustrating a growing competitive footprint that Cadillac aims to transfer to its F1 campaign.
Additional context and implications:
– The move signals a sustained push by General Motors into Formula 1, aligning with broader strategies to showcase high-performance technology on a global stage and to strengthen the brand’s competition pedigree in the United States.
– Perez and Bottas bring year-after-year resilience, race smartness, and podium-winning experience that could help accelerate Cadillac’s integration into F1’s evolving technical and regulatory environment.
– The Cadillacs’ endurance racing success could help the F1 project benefit from cross-sport synergies, including talent development, simulation, and powertrain or aero concepts shared across series.
What this means for fans and the sport:
– A high-profile, veteran-driven entry into Formula 1 from an American manufacturer helps broaden the appeal of the sport in the US and beyond.
– The collaboration between Cadillac’s established racing operations and F1’s premier competition framework promises a fresh, competitive narrative in the mid-2020s.
– Observers can expect a well-supported program with a deliberate development path, balanced by the pressure and scrutiny that comes with joining F1 as a new entrant.
Summary: Cadillac’s 2026 F1 project will pair Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, two drivers with extensive podium experience, with a multi-year plan guided by team principal Graeme Lowden. This marks a major milestone for Cadillac in F1, building on its endurance racing success and signaling GM’s broader commitment to top-tier motorsport in the coming years. A hopeful outlook suggests the team could establish itself as a credible contender as it learns the ropes of a new championship, while strengthening the visibility of American brands in global motorsport.
Additional notes:
– The 2026 season schedule currently points to the Australian Grand Prix as the opener, with testing in January and the official car debut in early February.
– The announcement helps frame Cadillac’s multi-series racing strategy, leveraging cross-series expertise to push innovation and performance forward.