Red Bull may have dropped Sergio Perez at the end of the 2024 season; however, it seems his career on the grid may not even be over quite yet. With Cadillac eyeing up experienced drivers to come aboard their campaign in the 2026 season, the Mexican driver appears to be top of their shortlist.
With an announcement expected before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September, and other big names such as Valtteri Bottas thrown into the mix, will we be seeing Perez back behind the visor?
The interest from Cadillac has been no secret, but why would Perez be a good fit?
Perez has always been regarded as a huge talent in the F1 paddock, and especially since his groundbreaking win in Sakhir in 2020, storming from last to first place to bring home Racing Point’s first win and his very own maiden win in F1. At this point, his future was uncertain, but Red Bull was keen to sweep him up after his astonishing recovery drive.
Partnering Max Verstappen in the year he would claim his first World Championship, Perez was a major player, aiding Verstappen to victory, notably at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Perez’s tyre management and defending skills held up Lewis Hamilton.
Valterri Bottas and Sergio Perez are among the top names to join the Cadillac F1 team in 2026.
Returning to F1 is said to be a ‘top priority’ for Bottas, while Perez is still seen as desirable despite his difficult 2023 and 2024 Red Bull Campaigns.
Other candidates are rumoured… pic.twitter.com/nzkgRjm9Uh
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 6, 2025
Perez picked up a handful of victories of his own during his time with the team, including wins at Monaco, Baku, and Singapore. However, a failure to win in 2024 saw him dropped in favour of Liam Lawson. With Lawson dropped after only two races, and Yuki Tsunoda failing to match Verstappen, was Perez just another victim of that dreaded second-seat curse?
We have seen how impressive the Mexican driver can be, and how pivotal a role he can play in a dominating team, and with Cadillac joining the grid amidst brand new regulations, they will want an experienced driver capable of providing feedback and assisting with development.
If Perez is going to Cadillac, who could his teammate be?
There have been many links to the seats opening up with the American team, including former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, Mick Schumacher, and even Yuki Tsunoda. Rumours about the return of Daniel Ricciardo also mounted, but the Australian firmly shut them down.
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The most expected pairing is Perez and Bottas, which would see former rivals joining together to guide the team’s development, as uncertainty grows around Schumacher’s involvement. With an announcement expected imminently, who are you hoping to see at Cadillac?
