Cadillac has finally put an end to months of speculation by announcing its first-ever Formula 1 driver lineup. The American brand, entering the sport in partnership with General Motors and TWG Motorsports, will field veteran grand prix winners Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez when it debuts at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
The decision signals Cadillac’s intention to balance experience with stability as it begins its journey in the world’s most demanding motorsport.
Experience Over Youth
Bottas and Perez are no strangers to the front of the Formula 1 grid. Between them, the pair bring 16 grand prix victories and more than 450 race starts. Both have served as dependable second drivers to world champions—Bottas to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and Perez to Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
Bottas, who has 10 career wins, spent his peak years helping Mercedes dominate Formula 1’s hybrid era. Perez, meanwhile, has six wins to his name, including five with Red Bull and one with Aston Martin Racing (then Racing Point).
While neither driver ever became world champion, their experience at top teams gives Cadillac a wealth of insight as it builds a competitive foundation in Formula 1.
Journeymen with Perspective
Before their stints at powerhouse teams, both Bottas and Perez spent significant time at midfield operations. Bottas began at Williams before his successful Mercedes move, later returning to the Sauber setup (currently Stake F1). Perez carved his career through Sauber, McLaren, and the long-running Force India/Racing Point/Aston Martin lineage before landing at Red Bull.
This background is valuable for Cadillac. The team faces the same steep learning curve that those outfits endured as they fought to establish themselves. Bottas and Perez know firsthand what it means to help smaller teams punch above their weight, a skill set the brand will rely on heavily in its early years.
The Oldest Lineup on the Grid
At 36 years old apiece when they take the start in Melbourne, Bottas and Perez will represent the oldest driver pairing in Formula 1 by average age in 2026. Only Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso still racing into his mid-40s, will feature an older single driver.
This makes Cadillac’s choice an unusual one in a sport increasingly focused on youth and long-term prospects. However, team leadership emphasized the value of seasoned drivers in stabilizing an ambitious new program. Both are signed on multi-year deals, giving the team continuity as it transitions from Ferrari customer engines to its own General Motors power units in 2029.
A Vision for the “Team of the Americas”
In statements released alongside the announcement, both drivers underlined their commitment to Cadillac’s project.
Bottas described the team’s entry as a “long-term vision” that is “ambitious but also grounded.” Perez echoed the sentiment, adding that he was “proud to be part of such a meaningful project from the very beginning,” and declared his hope that Cadillac can become “the team of the Americas.”
The pair will begin development work with Cadillac later this year, with plans to turn their first laps in a GM-powered F1 car by early 2025.
A Bold Start for Cadillac
Cadillac’s choice of Bottas and Perez may not reflect the sport’s future talent pipeline, but it does provide instant credibility. With two proven winners behind the wheel, the American marque has signaled that it is entering Formula 1 to compete seriously, not merely to participate.
Whether Cadillac can rise to the level of Red Bull, Mercedes, or Ferrari remains to be seen, but with experience in the cockpit and long-term plans in the garage, the brand’s entry promises to be one of the sport’s most intriguing storylines in 2026.
