Every year, talented young drivers from Formula 2 step up into the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1. Young drivers arrive with ambitions, unseen talent, and a dream of becoming world champions. Every year, the grid gets reshaped with new faces, rivalries. In 2026, Arvid Lindblad makes it to F1 with Racing Bulls as their 2nd driver.
However, Experience remains one of the most valuable assets in any sport. Drivers who left Formula 1 sometimes return to the sport with a new team and new perspectives. This year, two of the most experienced drivers return with Cadillac: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.They last raced for Red Bull Racing and Sauber at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. They have spent more than a decade fighting for pole positions, fastest laps, race wins, and championship titles.
Valtteri Bottas: From Mercedes Success to Cadillac’s New Formula One Chapter
Valtteri Bottas raced for Williams, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, and Sauber. He is widely regarded as a consistent performer. The peak of his career was with Mercedes, where he helped secure five straight Constructors titles from 2017 to 2021. His best year was 2019, with 5 pole positions, 15 podiums, along 4 race wins. He finished 2nd in the drivers’ championship behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton. He had collected 326 points in total
Bottas’s exit from the sport was because Mercedes wanted to bring in a younger driver from its junior program. The team promoted young British driver George Russell, as he had shown good performance with Williams. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for both the Team and Bottas.
He spent the next years with Alfa Romeo (now Audi F1), where he managed only 59 points in 3 years. Year 2024 was the toughest for him as he finished the championship with 0 points. The team finished last in the Constructors standings. His contract with the team ended in 2024, and he returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver.
He begins a new chapter with Cadillac in 2026.
Sergio Perez: Perfect Race Craft for Cadillac’s Formula One Debut
Sergio Perez raced for Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point, and Red Bull Racing, and has a reputation as one of the most intelligent drivers on the grid. The peak of his career came with Red Bull as he played a crucial role in championship campaigns and secured multiple podiums and race wins. 2023 was his best year, with 2 pole positions, 9 podiums, and 2 race wins, totaling 285 points.
Perez’s exit from the sport was mainly due to his poor performance and inconsistency; he had 8 race DNFs in the 2024 season, which put pressure on the team’s overall performance and the team’s lack of points in the constructors’ title race.
Also Read: Formula 1 New Regulations For 2026 Season: Everything You Need to Know
Formula One’s new chapter: Cadillac
In recent years, the sport has seen global popularity grow, especially in the United States, where it has risen due to 3 races on the calendar. The automotive giant General Motors backed Cadillac’s entry into F1 as an ambition to have another American team on the grid. Preparations for Cadillac’s entry began in 2023, approved by the FIA in late 2023.
The team has already started working on their project, developing aerodynamic concepts, running simulations, and developing the chassis for their future car. In 2024, the team hired more engineers, and the project rapidly expanded. Power unit development requires years of research, massive investments, and specialized setups; hence, they signed a contract with Ferrari as their engine supplier for their first few years in the sport.
The Cadillac F1 team announced its driver lineup in August 2025, signing experienced drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. The decision to choose intentional drivers was intentional, as the drivers could help with car development, guide engineers, and lay the foundations of the team. Together, Perez and Bottas have made 500 race starts and over 100 podium finishes. They are perfect for providing the team a valuable knowledge in car development and strategy. The team ultimately prioritizes experience to stabilize the program in the first few years.
“Its not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up” says Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac’s Early Struggles
No one is ever perfect from the start, and the same goes here. The new team has been facing many challenges despite a polished driver lineup. The team had to assemble its workforce, engineering facilities, and coordinate between its bases in the United States and Europe.
The driver could not complete significant laps during the Barcelona shakedown and Bahrain pre-season testing. They also struggled in pace compared to other teams. During the practice session at the 2026 Australian GP, the team spent most of its time experimenting with new setups and testing aerodynamics. Eventually, they remained at the end of the charts. As a result of struggling with the right balance between downforce, tyre performance, and stability.
The Qualifying was the toughest challenge for both drivers as they finished 18th and 19th on the starting grid. They will now aim to make regular upgrades to close their gap with midfield. Having experienced drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, they hope to steadily improve results and establish themselves as a stable team on the grid in the coming seasons.
