Because the Cadillac Components 1 workforce gears up for a primary public announcement on the Miami Grand Prix, rumours round Sergio Perez’s comeback are rising. Would the Mexican be an excellent choose for the American workforce?
Opposite to reviews in Germany, , with 2026’s new entrant one among a number of choices he’s nonetheless holding conversations with. However, with preparations for Cadillac’s F1 debut in full swing, it might make sense for the collection’ eleventh workforce to begin nailing down its driver line-up by the summer time because it ramps up its 2026 automotive efforts at its ever-expanding Silverstone base.
Does Perez make sense for Cadillac?
Chatting with Motorsport.com on the Bahrain Grand Prix, Cadillac workforce boss Graeme Lowdon acknowledged his squad is out of sync with the remainder of the paddock. By the point Cadillac and GM formally acquired approval to press forward, over November’s Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, most 2026 seats had already been stuffed, with quite a lot of groups preferring continuity between their 2025 and 2026 driver line-ups to clean the introduction of the all-new technical laws.
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However the variety of rookies on the grid this 12 months does imply there are a number of skilled palms accessible who can be an enormous asset to any start-up workforce. Former Pink Bull racer Perez has been close to the highest of Cadillac’s record for some time – and so he must be.
Aged 35, with 281 grand prix begins to his title, Perez has prime workforce data that will be an enormous asset to Lowdon’s operation. Sure, there may be the matter of the Mexican’s ignominious Pink Bull exit, however he’s removed from the one driver to have struggled alongside . One tough stint does not negate the remainder of his respectable profession, together with six wins, one among which was with Racing Level.
Commercially, Perez can be one of the crucial enticing names accessible, bringing vital backing from Mexican communications mogul Carlos Slim. It could even be a shot within the arm for the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, which has no matter Perez’s F1 future. Other than direct Mexican backing, having a high-profile Mexican driver in one among its seats would clearly even be useful to Cadillac and Basic Motors as a North American model.
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Does a Cadillac F1 return make sense for Perez?
Perez clearly struggled in direction of the tip of his Milton Keynes stint, however drivers do not forget easy methods to drive. The Guadalajara native has now been in a position to take a break to rebuild and reinvigorate himself. However does that imply a Cadillac F1 return would make sense to him?
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“When you step again, you realise how a lot you surrender in life to be within the sport, so to be in F1 absolutely dedicated I want the motivation,” Perez informed the F1 web site earlier this 12 months. “If I discover a venture that motivates me absolutely to come back again, the place the workforce imagine in me and the place they respect my profession, my expertise and every thing I can carry to a workforce, it might be very enticing to contemplate it.”
Like all of us, Perez needs to really feel valued by whoever courts him, as an integral pillar of the programme moderately than a stop-gap resolution till a extra fancied prospect turns into accessible in 2027. Cadillac might effectively present that, however there are nonetheless zero ensures over how ready the brand new entrant will probably be in 2026. Beginning a brand new workforce from scratch is a big endeavor, and it is not laborious to think about the squad languishing in direction of the again for the primary couple of seasons.
Is that the kind of comeback Perez would really feel motivated to commerce in his household life for and embark on one other F1 stint with 24-race seasons? That could be a query solely Perez can reply, and there are reportedly nonetheless different choices on the desk from extra established groups that will carry much less threat.
Who else may Cadillac signal?
Within the skilled lead driver class, Perez would face competitors from reserve driver . The Finn has repeatedly mentioned he’s angling to return to the grid in 2026 and that being a part of Cadillac’s venture is of curiosity to him. Bottas has the same profile by way of race begins (246) and wins (10) and, whereas he’s commercially much less fascinating than Perez, he has an awesome popularity within the paddock for his technical expertise.
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Cadillac’s F1 workforce, which is a part of Andretti World’s empire, additionally has a mission to carry an American driver onto the grid. The workforce’s personal IndyCar ace Colton Herta has been prompt as a doable candidate, in addition to Aston Martin junior and F2 driver Jak Crawford. However, whereas Cadillac’s 2026 driver line-up has usually been offered as an American rookie paired with an skilled “foreigner” – for lack of a greater phrase – Lowdon has e from 12 months one.
“We’ll choose drivers on benefit,” he informed Motorsport.com. “Having a driver on benefit does not imply you may’t have an American passport as effectively. But in addition, you may’t simply choose an F1 workforce on what they’re doing this 12 months or subsequent 12 months. The workforce’s right here to remain.
“I believe the followers would like to see an American driver in an American workforce. There’s nothing stopping that from taking place, however we have simply received to go forward and choose on benefit and construct a workforce, as a result of there are just a few very skilled drivers accessible.”
So, if Cadillac feels it’s in its finest pursuits to construct up a workforce with two revered F1 veterans, it could effectively take each Perez and Bottas for the primary few years till it’s firmly settled and an American prospect it can not overlook is able to go.
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