Cadillac is closing in on signing skilled pair Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to type the driving force line-up for its debut System 1 season in 2026, RACER understands.
The Common Motors-supported crew – a part of the TWG Motorsports portfolio – has been getting ready to hitch the grid subsequent 12 months, after lastly receiving entry approval from the FIA and System One Administration in March. Quite a few drivers have been linked with the race seats, however crew principal Graeme Lowdon had usually voiced a desire for not less than one skilled identify for the crew’s inaugural season.
RACER understands that after discussions with a number of drivers, the Cadillac F1 crew has opted to prioritize expertise in each race seats, with Bottas and Perez the supposed pairing, and contract progress at a sophisticated stage.
Each drivers misplaced their seats on the finish of final season – Bottas leaving Sauber and Perez dropped by Purple Bull – however are set to deliver a mixed 527 grand prix begins and 16 victories between them to the most recent crew on the grid.
Perez (left) and Bottas, pictured right here in 2021, would deliver loads of F1 expertise with top-level groups. Steve Etherington/Getty Photographs
Bottas gained on 10 events for Mercedes, whereas Perez secured 5 wins for Purple Bull and one for Racing Level, and so they mark the 2 most skilled drivers out there who’re at present not racing in F1. Cadillac had been analyzing numerous drivers who had latest expertise inside present groups in both race or growth roles, together with Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu, Jack Doohan, Franco Colapinto, Felipe Drugovich, Jak Crawford and Fred Vesti.
Whereas Bottas has been serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes this season, Perez has taken a 12 months out after having his Purple Bull contract terminated early. Replacements Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have each struggled alongside Max Verstappen since Perez left, with Purple Bull persevering with a slide from competitiveness that began final 12 months.
An announcement referring to the Cadillac driver line-up may come as early as subsequent week, forward of the resumption of the 2025 season on the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
