August 26, 2025 — Cadillac (GM) will join Formula 1 in 2026 with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas signed to contracts that last for several years. The veterans have 527 starts, 16 wins, and 106 podiums to their name. They are the first new F1 team since 2016.
Cadillac in a nutshell
- Entry approved: November 2024; goal: Australia 2026.
- Engines: Ferrari at launch; GM-built PU from a U.S. base by 2029 (engine facility planned Charlotte, NC, 2026).
- Footprint: The new headquarters is in Fishers, Indiana, and there is a hub near Silverstone, UK. Operations are in Warren, Michigan.
- Hiring: about one person per day.
- Team principal Graeme Lowdon thanked Mercedes for letting Bottas go. CEO Dan Towriss (TWG Motorsports/TWG Global), GM President Mark Reuss, and board member Mario Andretti were also there.
- Peter Crolla’s launch plan says that participation, reliability, and performance are the three most important things.
- Mick Schumacher and Jak Crawford are on the reserve list.
- Note: The team says the driver picks weren’t business-related, even though Mexico is a big market for GM.
In-depth look at Cadillac F1 2026 Driver Market – Six Seats Still Up for Grabs
Drivers
- Sergio Pérez (35) has 281 starts, 6 wins, 39 podiums, and 3 poles. He helped Red Bull win the constructors’ titles in 2022–23. He says he has “nothing to prove,” took 2025 off, and is ready to help build the “team of the Americas.”
- Valtteri Bottas (36) has 246 starts, 10 wins, 67 podiums, and 20 poles. He made his Williams debut in 2013 and was a key part of Mercedes’ titles from 2017 to 2021. He calls the project ambitious but realistic.
There are still 6 open seats in 2026.
- Mercedes (2): George Russell is expected to join, and Kimi Antonelli is also expected to join on a one-year deal for 2025. He got better after the rear suspension was changed back. Wolff keeps his options open, and Verstappen stays with Red Bull until 2025 to see how things go in 2026.
- Red Bull (1): Max Verstappen is confirmed, but the second seat is still up in the air. Yuki Tsunoda is under a lot of stress. Candidates: Isack Hadjar (1 year, ahead of Liam Lawson), Lawson (1 year), Alex Palou (rumor denied; $30 million lawsuit against McLaren; Ganassi-contracted until 2026), and Arvid Lindblad (FP1 at Silverstone through exemption; likely Racing Bulls first).
- Alpine (1): Pierre Gasly is confirmed, but the second seat is up in the air. Franco Colapinto is on a rolling deal after five races, and Jack Doohan is unlikely to get the job. Flavio Briatore’s calls are changing.
- Racing Bulls (2): Will follow the decisions of the Red Bull senior team.
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