The nascent Cadillac F1 crew has formally confirmed sequence veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will kind its skilled driver line-up for its 2026 debut season.
As beforehand reported by Autosport, each Perez and Bottas had been on the verge of an F1 return for a while because the sequence' eleventh crew is banking on expertise to get it in control throughout what might be a difficult debut season subsequent yr.
Bottas is a veteran of 246 grand prix begins, claiming 67 podiums in addition to 10 wins – the latter all with Mercedes. The Finn, who turns 36 later this week, left Sauber on the finish of 2024 and returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver, which agreed to launch him for a full grand prix return.
“From the second I started talking with the Cadillac System 1 Workforce, I felt one thing completely different – one thing bold but in addition grounded,” mentioned Bottas. “This isn't only a racing venture; it's a long-term imaginative and prescient. It isn't on daily basis that you simply get an opportunity to be a part of one thing being constructed from the bottom up and serving to form it into one thing that really belongs on the F1 grid.
“I've had the glory of working with a number of the greatest groups on this planet, and I can already see the identical professionalism and starvation right here. That is an iconic model with an enormous legacy in American motorsport, and to be part of the story because it enters the world stage of F1 is extremely particular for me.
“I'm trying ahead to representing the American spirit of racing on the best circuits on this planet. I'd additionally prefer to thank Mercedes for his or her unwavering assist and sportsmanship in facilitating such an thrilling step.”
In the meantime, Perez was a free agent after being launched by Pink Bull because of spiralling performances alongside Max Verstappen final yr, with the 35-year-old Mexican eager to make a recent begin in F1 after a primary stint spanning 14 years and 281 grand prix begins. Perez claimed a maiden win for Racing Level on the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix earlier than including 5 extra wins to his tally with Pink Bull, and stepped onto a grand prix podium on 39 events.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez in 2022
Photograph by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Photographs
“Becoming a member of the Cadillac System 1 Workforce is an extremely thrilling new chapter in my profession,” Perez mentioned. “From our first conversations, I might sense the fervour and dedication behind this venture. It is an honor to be a part of a constructing a crew that may develop collectively in order that, in time, we are going to combat on the very entrance.
“Cadillac is a legendary identify in American motorsport, and to assist deliver such a implausible firm to System 1 is a large accountability, one I'm assured of taking up.
“I'm proud to be a part of such an bold and significant venture from the very starting. I'm actually happy to be a part of such a dynamic line-up, and collectively I imagine we can assist form this crew into an actual contender, the crew of the Americas. We're relying on assist from throughout the continent – and we need to make everybody proud.”
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