Cadillac snub American drivers in official F1 lineup announcement

Driver announcement Cadillac — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Cadillac snub American drivers in official F1 lineup announcement

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will drive for Cadillac in 2026

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 26 August 2025 17:00

Cadillac have confirmed their driver lineup for their entry into F1 for the 2026 season.

The American team have revealed that their cars will be piloted by veteran drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, with team principal Graeme Lowdon picking experience over potential.

Perez and Bottas have 16 grand prix victories and 106 podiums between them, but both drivers were axed at the end of 2024 by Red Bull and Sauber respectively after poor campaigns.

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Now, they are both set for a stunning return to a full-time race seat, with Cadillac signing the pair 'not for a season, but for the future', suggesting a multi-year deal is in place for the two superstars.

Second fiddles given chance to lead

Perez helped his Red Bull team-mate to claim drivers' title success for the first time that year, while Bottas' performances were enough to clinch Mercedes the constructors' championship for the eighth consecutive season.

However, both were vastly outperformed by their team-mates, a feature of both of their careers while with 'big teams'.

This new opportunity at Cadillac offers a reset for both 35-year-olds, with new regulations sweeping into the sport and a new, ambitious Cadillac team ready to build an outfit that is capable of challenging for future world titles.

Since leaving Sauber in 2024, Bottas has been a reserve driver with Mercedes, but team principal Toto Wolff admitted that he would not stand in the way of the Finnish veteran negotiating with other teams.

The pair were confirmed to be Cadillac's driver lineup in a post on X, which featured Hollywood superstar Keanu Reeves.

Two paths. One call of destiny.
The Cadillac Formula 1 Team's future begins with them. pic.twitter.com/4LqfY1C5N8
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) August 26, 2025