F1’s new team bypasses young talent and announces the driver lineup that most analysts anticipated it would have in 2026.
Following extensive rumors and disclosures, an announcement was made,The Cadillac Formula One TeamOn Tuesday, the team announced ex-Mercedes-AMG, ex-Sauber, and current Mercedes F1 reserve driver Valtteri Bottas, along with former Red Bull Racing grand prix winner Sergio Pérez, as its two race drivers starting from the 2026 F1 season. This announcement confirms that Cadillac has chosen highly experienced F1 veterans over emerging young talents and seasoned young F1 drivers for the initial phase of establishing its new grand prix racing team.
Certainly, other possible signings such as former F1 drivers Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu—who have been trying to find a path back to the track—and various up-and-coming F1 newcomers are still waiting on the sidelines. One of these promising talents has expressed his desire to get a chance withCadillacis a 20-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, Jack Crawford, a five-time Formula 2 race victor who is currently second in the F2 rankings this season. However, he and others, including accomplished F2 drivers like Felipe Drugovich and Frederik Vesti, who now have connections to Cadillac sports car racing, will all need to wait.
“We think [Bottas’ and Pérez’] experience, their leadership, and their technical skills are exactly what we require. It’s the perfect mix, the right drivers at the perfect moment,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac F1, during a call with journalists.
There are numerous incredible drivers available. There’s a new group of young drivers who are thrilling and highly skilled… And so, this was a challenging decision to make, but in the end, the experience and leadership of these two individuals were the most outstanding.
What About a U.S. Driver?
We definitely consider that, and it’s crucial for us to ensure there’s a route for an American driver into Formula 1, and we’ll be focusing on that,” Towriss added. “However, I believe for this first season of what the team requires… this was the appropriate mix for our team.
Beyond this first collaboration, Cadillac did not disclose the duration of the contracts for either Bottas or Pérez, stating only that they are multi-year agreements. We anticipate the contracts will last at least two or three years, likely including several options and performance-related conditions.
Some supporters and skeptics are sure to view this announcement as material for social media commentary, as Formula 1 has faced criticism in recent years for not providing sufficient open seats or opportunities for the next wave of single-seater racing talent. This is a valid concern and frustration that many fans, let alone experienced drivers, share. However, Cadillac’s strategy was expected for the team set to join F1 as its 11th entry next season.
Why Two Veterans?
New F1 teams have traditionally found it difficult to be competitive during their early years, as they face off against well-established teams that have extensive experience and data. With F1 introducing a new engine and chassis format starting next year, some of the existing data could become outdated, forcing all teams to undergo an engineering reset.
The major technological advancements ahead—smaller vehicles, active aerodynamics, and increased electrically produced power—present a chance for the current competitive structure to experience a significant transformation, depending on which teams implement their new cars and power units more effectively.
However, it still implies that drivers who have extensive experience with the methods used by successful teams, as well as understanding how to build a car and powertrain, are generally seen as the most promising investment by the F1 community. (Cadillac will utilize customer Ferrari engines and gearboxes while working on its own versions, which are expected to be ready by 2029.)
In other words, even if they aren’t seen as the fastest drivers, pure speed often takes a backseat in many new-team situations. Drivers who have only had limited F1 experience through a few real-world practice sessions, testing, and simulator work were always going to have a tough time making an immediate impact with Cadillac.
Confident in Its Choices
That doesn’t mean Cadillac anticipates either of its drivers to be slow, but Pérez aims to restore his reputation for raw speed after a tough conclusion to his time at Red Bull, where the car was widely seen as extremely challenging to handle for anyone other than Max Verstappen. Moreover, both he and Bottas are 35 years old and have not been in F1 race seats this year, yet Cadillac’s inaugural driver combination—on paper, at least—possesses the necessary expertise in abundance.
Regarding each driver’s latest on-track results, Towriss stated, “We invested significant time reviewing past experiences and the conditions at Sauber, specifically how Valtteri performed with that car, and the contrast between his qualifying and race performances.”
Then, specifically, the more complex situation was Red Bull,” he admitted. “That has been an intriguing story to observe. A team constructed around a single driver, yet it has two, and clearly, none of the other drivers have performed well in that second position from that perspective.
So we spent a significant amount of time speaking with individuals at Red Bull to gather insights and opinions. As I mentioned, the process was extensive and detailed in that regard. After reviewing everything, we are very confident in [Pérez], his ambition to compete in Formula 1, to make a statement by demonstrating the performance he is capable of, and to move that past season or so at Red Bull into the rearview mirror.
… it was crucial for us to understand where Sergio stands regarding his desire to return to Formula 1, as well as his confidence in our initiative to lead the Cadillac Formula 1 team. We were extremely satisfied with his reply. During our discussions with him, he exceeded expectations, I suppose you could say. We had some doubts about certain aspects, and he addressed all of our concerns, passing our evaluations with great success.
General Motors’ president, Mark Reuss, expressed similar views, stating, “I believe the technical progress of the team and the vehicle, along with the powertrain, is driven by seasoned individuals who are familiar with these tracks—you can use simulations and tools only so far, but it ultimately comes down to the human element in their capacity to push the boundaries with a car they trust. The technical communication between the team and the driver is extremely crucial, particularly when considering their experience and their history of success. This is what makes the difference.”
Reuss, however, also mentioned, “Performance is significant, although… we discussed that as well.”
Certainly, although each driver took a backseat to their more celebrated championship-winning teammates (Lewis Hamilton for Bottas, Verstappen for Pérez), they competed alongside and gained knowledge from the two teams that ruled F1 throughout the entire decade from 2014 to 2024. As a result, the Bottas/Pérez pair brings together 26 years of F1 experience, with 16 victories in the series across 532 races (527 starts) during this period.
Considering their age and assuming the historical record is accurate, neither is expected to be driving a Cadillac F1 car when the team reaches the front of the grid, but they can provide significant collective support in getting there.
Christian Horner Will Not Be Attending
The Cadillac initiative will be supported through a collaboration with TWG Motorsports, a U.S.-based company led by CEO Towriss, which also has equity interests in prominent American motorsport organizations.Andretti Globaland Wayne Taylor Racing. Ex-Virgin and Marussia F1 team chief Graeme Lowdon serves as Cadillac F1’s team principal.
Even though high-level roles within the team are already filled, there has been ongoing speculation that Christian Horner, the recently fired long-time CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing, might join the American team. However, Towriss laughed off the idea and dismissed it.
“There have been no discussions with Christian Horner. There are no intentions to hold any,” he stated clearly when we asked him about the issue. “Therefore, I would like to officially put an end to that rumor. Our support, confidence, and endorsement are 100 percent behind Graeme Lowdon.”
Cadillac F1 plans to unveil its first-ever Formula 1 race car during pre-season testing in late January, with the team’s logo and design set to debut in February. The Australian Grand Prix, which marks the start of the 2026 F1 season, is scheduled for March 6–8.
Muara Digital Team
