Sergio Perez does not see his Formula 1 career as over. The Mexican is eyeing a return to the grid in 2026.
The 35-year-old found himself out of a seat for the 2025 season after his exit from Red Bull. He became the latest driver to struggle next to Max Verstappen after failing to match him across four seasons.
Perez won five races with the Milton Keynes-based outfit and helped the team secure their first 1-2 finish in the drivers’ championship in 2023. However, costly mistakes and regular Q1 exits in qualifying were damaging for Red Bull.
His woeful form took its toll in 2024 as the team finished third in the constructors’ championship. Perez suffered his worst season with Red Bull with eighth in the standings, failing to finish in the top five after the sixth race of the year in Miami.
| Season | Races | Wins | Poles | FL | Podiums | Points | Pos. |
| 2021 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 190 | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 305 | 3rd |
| 2023 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 285 | 2nd |
| 2024 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 152 | 8th |
Helmut Marko thinks the atmosphere is better at Red Bull since Perez’s departure. Liam Lawson has replaced the Mexican for 2025 and will hope to be closer to Verstappen than his predecessor.
Despite an underwhelming 2024 campaign, Perez is determined to make a return in 2026. There is an obvious candidate for the 35-year-old to head to – and talks are already underway.
Sergio Perez’s sponsors have held initial talks with Cadillac over a 2026 F1 return
Cadillac have confirmed their entry to the F1 grid in 2026. The American brand – backed by General Motors – will mark the first time the sport has had 11 teams since 2016.
Cadillac will run Ferrari engines until they bring their own power unit to F1 in the next few years. The most important thing about the team’s arrival is they will offer two more seats on the grid in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Perez has been heavily linked with Cadillac since his exit from Red Bull. The 35-year-old offers a wealth of experience with 14 seasons in F1 behind him, as well as huge commercial value given his popularity in North America.
His sponsors are already working on getting a deal done. Speaking on the Formula de 2 podcast, Jimmy Morales – director of racing team Escuderia Telmex, who sponsor Perez – confirmed initial talks are ongoing with Cadillac.
He said: “We talked to everyone and started to see their plans and if they have any room for Checo.
“The important thing is that he’s interested. It’s peace of mind, the ability to focus on your work. There are many things to consider in order to perform at your best. That’s what we’re looking for for Checo.”
READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
Cadillac have several options for 2026 – is Sergio Perez the best candidate?
Many will look at Perez’s links to Cadillac with scrutiny given his time at Red Bull. There is no denying his spell there ended poorly with one finish higher than 10th in the final eight races of 2024 – teammate Verstappen won the championship in the same car.
However, the Red Bull machinery is very much suited to the Dutchman’s driving style – something that none of his teammates have felt comfortable with. Furthermore, while at top teams he has struggled, Perez has a great record of extracting the best from midfield teams.
His time at Sauber, Force India and Racing Point prove that. Cadillac will not be expected to perform straight away and having Perez in the team will be vital given his experience and commercial impact.
Of course, the Mexican is not the only candidate. Valtteri Bottas has held talks with Graeme Lowdon – Cadillac team principal – over a seat with the team.
Zhou Guanyu has also been linked as well as several talents in IndyCar with Cadillac’s desire to sign an American driver. Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood are just some of the names being mentioned, giving the 11th team a headache as to who to put in their two cars.
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