As Cadillac prepare to enter F1 in 2026, they have no shortage of candidates for their driver line-up. Sergio Perez is among reportedly one of the American outfit’s leading contenders, with Perez’s camp understood to be in talks.
The Mexican driver hits several key criteria that Cadillac are looking for – but this certainly does not guarantee his selection.
Why Sergio Perez is an obvious option for Cadillac
Despite spending four years at Red Bull, Perez’s reputation was arguably damaged by the time of his departure.
Initially, the 35-year-old managed to hold his own and contribute effectively at Red Bull. Alongside securing a few victories, he played a crucial role in Verstappen’s first world title.
However, Perez struggled immensely in his final years with the Milton Keynes squad – unable to match teammate Max Verstappen’s output.
Red Bull eventually ran out of patience waiting for the #11 car to improve, deciding to put Liam Lawson alongside Max Verstappen for 2025.
Considering how late Christian Horner decided to pull the trigger, alongside Perez’s adamance his seat was safe, there was no time to find a team for this year.
Still, the 35-year-old’s camp are not giving up on returning to F1.
Alongside Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez is the most accomplished free agent on the market.
Having spent 10 years in F1 paddock, he perfectly fits the profile that Cadillac are looking for. Signing someone with experience is a priority for the Cadillac project, especially if – as seems likely – they plan to sign Colton Herta, who would be a rookie.
Perez also brings significant sponsorship and commercial value to the table.
For a new team, and one based in the United States, this is another reason why Perez is a convincing candidate.
Because of this, MARCA’s report that contact has been made between Perez’s team and Cadillac cannot be a huge surprise.
Assuming the Mexican driver is still motivated to race in Formula 1, he is someone for the American team to consider.
Although Perez will have no shortage of interest from other racing series, including IndyCar and Formula E, returning to F1 is still possible – at least for the foreseeable future.
Still a long way to go
Unlike last season, the driver market is likely to be relatively stagnant. This is not to suggest there aren’t teams who will change their driver line-up.
Alpine, Red Bull and VCARB could all feasibly spring a surprise with their line-ups before the end of 2025.
Because of this, any conversations between Sergio Perez’s team and Cadillac will only be preliminary.
The US outfit already have a significant pool of drivers, from Herta to Bottas to Zhou, to consider. As the year goes on, more options could become available to the US team.
Franco Colapinto’s debut, and everything that came after, could not have been predicted prior to last year’s Italian GP.
Since the Argentine burst onto the scene, a chain of events have been triggered that fundamentally changed the complexion of the 2025 grid.
In a similar way, Perez’s value in the market could be impacted by how the field performs over the coming months.
With five rookies in this year’s field, Cadillac’s driver shortlist could evolve drastically.
