Sergio Perez believes that the 2026 Formula 1 regulations will suit his driving style, stating that every driver will adapt differently to the new era. With the removal of ground effect, Perez believes we will see a turnaround in his performance.
After leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season, Perez was recently announced as a driver for Cadillac alongside Valtteri Bottas. The American team will be joining the grid as the 11th team at the beginning of the 2026 season.
Sergio Perez thinks he will see improvements when the ground effect era comes to an end
Speaking to Sky Sports on The F1 Show, Perez touched on how key adaptability is, arguing that once the current era of ground effect comes to an end, we will see improvements across the grid.
Speaking about the current era of cars, he said: “It’s been tricky. We’ve seen it with many different drivers – it’s all about adapting a car into a driving style. Sometimes it just takes a little bit longer.
“I’ve done well in previous eras, so I expect the new regulations will suit my style.”
🤗| Sergio Perez returns to Formula 1 as a man on a mission!
Following a disappointing end to his Red Bull stint he now has the task of pushing Cadillac to the very front of the field!
We discussed his return in our most recent episode of The Fastest Podcast!#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/dRHAipAVLp
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) August 27, 2025
Perez will be hoping to put in a strong performance with Cadillac after struggles at Red Bull. In the 2024 season, he failed to match the performance of teammate Max Verstappen, raising questions from critics about the car. After difficulties with Perez’s successors – Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda – and a less competitive car in 2025, it seems Red Bull may have developed too far towards the driving style of Verstappen.
What can we expect from Perez and Cadillac in 2026?
By signing Perez and Bottas, Cadillac have made a strong statement in choosing experience over young talent, demonstrating their devotion to building a competitive car. With Perez’s history across the grid and Bottas known for his competitiveness against Hamilton at Mercedes, it is a promising duo.
When asked about his upcoming partnership with the Finnish driver, Perez said, “I think it’s going to work well. We are both very competitive, we are both very hungry, and we have seen it all in the sport.”
What to Expect from Cadillac F1’s Experienced Duo of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez in 2026
Between them, Perez and Bottas bring a combined 16 wins to Cadillac, and also boast 106 podiums between them. They are the oldest driver pairing on the grid, both with long histories in the sport, with Perez first joining F1 in 2011, followed by Bottas in 2013.
With the American team bringing their own engines into the sport for their 2029 campaign, it’s clear that they are intent on building a team prepared for anything.
