Formula 1 will welcome its 11th team in 2026 as Cadillac officially enters the sport with a star-studded driver lineup featuring Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
The American-owned team's announcement represents a significant moment in F1's expansion, bringing both experienced drivers back to the grid after their departures from Red Bull and Kick Sauber respectively at the end of 2024.
Perez, who endured a difficult final season with Red Bull, expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge, describing it as an opportunity to 'get back to enjoying the sport' after what he called a 'very difficult final year.' The Mexican driver, who scored just seven points alongside Yuki Tsunoda in his final Red Bull campaign, emphasized that he has 'nothing to prove' and views this as a comeback to help move the new team forward.
Meanwhile, Bottas brings a wealth of experience from his successful stint with Mercedes, where he played a crucial supporting role in multiple championship-winning campaigns.
The Finnish driver's technical knowledge and race-winning pedigree will be invaluable for Cadillac's development program.
The announcement leaves six seats still to be confirmed across the 2026 grid, with Mercedes, Red Bull, Alpine, and Racing Bulls yet to finalize their lineups.
Perez defended his former rival Lewis Hamilton amid the Briton's struggles at Ferrari, stating that Hamilton is 'a fantastic driver and for sure he'll figure it out.' The Cadillac project represents a significant investment in F1's growth in the American market, with the team expected to bring fresh competition to the established order.
The American-owned team's announcement represents a significant moment in F1's expansion, bringing both experienced drivers back to the grid after their departures from Red Bull and Kick Sauber respectively at the end of 2024.
Perez, who endured a difficult final season with Red Bull, expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge, describing it as an opportunity to 'get back to enjoying the sport' after what he called a 'very difficult final year.' The Mexican driver, who scored just seven points alongside Yuki Tsunoda in his final Red Bull campaign, emphasized that he has 'nothing to prove' and views this as a comeback to help move the new team forward.
Meanwhile, Bottas brings a wealth of experience from his successful stint with Mercedes, where he played a crucial supporting role in multiple championship-winning campaigns.
The Finnish driver's technical knowledge and race-winning pedigree will be invaluable for Cadillac's development program.
The announcement leaves six seats still to be confirmed across the 2026 grid, with Mercedes, Red Bull, Alpine, and Racing Bulls yet to finalize their lineups.
Perez defended his former rival Lewis Hamilton amid the Briton's struggles at Ferrari, stating that Hamilton is 'a fantastic driver and for sure he'll figure it out.' The Cadillac project represents a significant investment in F1's growth in the American market, with the team expected to bring fresh competition to the established order.
