Cadillac’s First F1 Lineup: Experience Over Experimentation with Pérez and Bottas

Photo from www.x.com/Cadillac_F1

By Ryan Wu

Cadillac has unveiled its long-awaited first Formula 1 driver lineup, opting for two veterans in Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.

For months, speculation hinted at the possibility of an American driver, with Colton Herta and rising Formula 2 star Jak Crawford floated as contenders. In the end, Cadillac’s leadership made a clear statement: experience comes first.

Pérez and Bottas bring plenty of it. Together, they account for 527 F1 starts, 16 victories, 106 podiums, and 23 poles — numbers that underscore why Cadillac chose stability over risk. Pérez, fresh off regaining his footing this year after a rocky 2024 with Red Bull, still carries the pedigree of finishing third and second in the championship just two seasons ago. Bottas, meanwhile, arrives with a résumé that includes five years of top-five finishes at Mercedes and back-to-back runner-up campaigns in 2019 and 2020.

Still, both drivers are now 35, and neither looks like a long-term solution for a team just entering the sport. Their signings suggest Cadillac’s immediate priority is credibility: fielding a competitive, respected lineup from day one, while leaving the door open for a younger face — perhaps even an American — to join down the road.