Formula 1 is getting back underway soon, and millions of fans worldwide are filled with anticipation to see who’ll come out on top this year. This could be a very exciting season, with the 2026 specification changes forcing teams to design their cars from scratch, both in their aerodynamics section as well as their power unit department. Cadillac are new on the grid this season, meaning there will now be 22 drivers at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. A few months ago, it was revealed that the team’s driver lineup would consist of two F1 veterans in Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
Perez and Bottas’ achievements throughout the last decade have been impressive —Perez, who made his F1 debut in 2011, has raced for multiple top teams such as Sauber, Force India/Racing Point and finally Red Bull Racing. He has demonstrated his talent over and over again, with his most significant win coming at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, where he went from last to first in the span of 50 laps.
Bottas’ career started off in 2013 at Williams, before joining Mercedes in 2017 to partner Lewis Hamilton. He collected an impressive 10 race wins and 58 podiums during his five seasons with the Silver Arrows. After the 2021 season, Bottas raced for Alfa Romeo / Sauber until 2024, when he rejoined Mercedes in a reserve capacity.
As expected from the junior team on the grid, Cadillac have a huge challenge ahead of them in order to give Perez and Bottas a competitive car. With financial backing from General Motors and a Ferrari power unit for the 2026 season, they will hope to perform decently.
However, though the team has ambitious goals for the long term, their near future consists of more realistic goals — focus remains on learning rather than competing for wins and podiums. Their two drivers are expected to be of great help, thanks to their experience driving for constructors’ champions. In a season where teams are expected to be a lot closer together in terms of performance, that experience could prove to be the crucial factor, and in the right conditions we might even see a Cadillac podium.
“Valtteri Bottas at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix” by Dorian Schuster (XaviYuahanda) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.