Report: F1 veterans Perez, Bottas to drive for Cadillac in 2026

Veteran drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will return to the Formula 1 grid next year with the incoming Cadillac team, sources told Nate Saunders and Jose Antonio Cortes of ESPN.

Cadillac, which will become the 11th team in 2026, opted for experienced racers after being linked with several pilots in recent months. Perez and Bottas, previously behind the wheel for Red Bull and Kick Sauber, respectively, have a combined 16 race wins between them in F1.

Mick Schumacher was among the other drivers in contention for a Cadillac seat, but nobody was considered as strongly as Perez and Bottas, according to Saunders and Cortes. Daniel Ricciardo, one of the most popular figures in the sport, was reportedly never an option for the team.

Perez and Bottas are expected to be officially unveiled before next week's Dutch Grand Prix.

Alpine, looking to replace Franco Colapinto, made a late attempt to land either Perez or Bottas, but the struggling Enstone-based squad was turned down by both, Saunders and Cortes add.

Perez, 35, has been looking for a new seat since being dropped by Red Bull after a challenging 2024 season in which his form dropped off dramatically. Bottas, meanwhile, has been back at former team Mercedes as a reserve driver after being replaced by Sauber.

General Motors, approved to enter F1 last year, decided to join the grid under the Cadillac brand. American racing legend and former F1 champion Mario Andretti is on the board of directors.