Cadillac F1 are hoping to become the first team to join the Formula 1 grid since Haas in 2016 and have cleared nearly every hurdle in their path.
A bid to join F1 from Andretti was rejected at the beginning of 2024, but it was announced after the Las Vegas Grand Prix that an agreement in principle had been reached for a General Motors team to enter the paddock next year.
While Andretti’s name has been replaced with Cadillac’s by General Motors, the project lives on and if everything goes to plan, there will 11 teams in F1 in 2026.
Cadillac will run Ferrari engines to begin with before GM bring their own power units in 2028.
One of the most important factors that hasn’t been decided yet is which drivers will race for Cadillac next season.
A whole host of names have already been linked with the vacant seats, both from the world of F1 and the likes of IndyCar.
Colton Herta is of interest to Cadillac having previously missed out on a drive in Formula 1 due to a lack of superlicense points.
Daniel Ricciardo has ruled out a return to F1, via ESPN, but one driver who may be interested is Sergio Perez.
Peter Windsor explains why he can’t see Cadillac F1 signing Sergio Perez
Speaking on Cameron CC’s YouTube channel, F1 expert Peter Windsor was talking about Perez’s future.
He was asked if Perez could be seen in a Cadillac F1 car in 2026 and replied: “I hadn’t really thought about it.
“I don’t think Cadillac would run him, would they? Why would they?
“For a start, they’re going to want an American I would imagine in one car and then secondly they’ll want somebody pretty much of the moment who’s quick and going to bring a lot to the team.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
“I can’t imagine Perez would fill that role now especially if he’s been sort of on the sidelines for a while.
“I’d like to see him do something like Carrera Panamericana, something really gritty and not something that inevitably will end up going nowhere.”
Sergio Perez will be desperate to prove himself one last time in F1 after Red Bull ending
Cadillac will want to hit the ground running once they enter Formula 1 and while the drivers they end up hiring are only a small part of the operation, they will set the tone for how they’re seen within the sport.
The churn in the driver’s market last season has seen several very impressive racers miss out on seats and the likes of Perez and Valtteri Bottas stand out as potential candidates if Cadillac want an experienced head within their ranks.
Perez was adamant throughout his final year at Red Bull that he would see out his contract which was extended midway through the campaign and could have run until the end of 2026.
READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
Red Bull’s car become more and more difficult to drive and only Verstappen’s genius kept it not only in a straight line but at a level where he could compete with McLaren and Ferrari.
Perez received an apology from Red Bull’s engineers when they finally relented and listened to both of their drivers’ concerns.
The Mexican may decide to move on and race in another series or retire altogether now.
However, there may also be a part of him that wants to return and prove his struggles were car-related and not a personal drop off and his army of sponsors – plus a huge following in North America – will make him a tempting option for Cadillac as the deadline looms on who will be their first F1 drivers.
