Hi friends,
Summer break is over, but I’m not sure I’m 100% ready to go back to racing. How about we take another couple of weeks?
Top Story of the Week: Cadillac Announced Bottas and Perez on Multi-Year Deals
Cadillac has finally shown it’s hand for 2026, and honestly… I think it’s exactly the right one. The new American outfit is hitting the grid with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez on multi-year deals. Two veterans, potentially both past their primes but still very capable, tasked with carrying the weight of a brand new F1 team.
Some call it safe. Others call it underwhelming. I think it’s exactly what Cadillac needs.
Why Experience Matters More Than Hype
For a brand new F1 team, the last thing you want is two rookies learning the ropes together. Cadillac has chosen wisely here. Bottas and Perez bring nearly three decades of combined Formula 1 experience, race wins and plenty of time in high-pressure environments.
Bottas is a ten time Grand Prix winner, ex-Mercedes wingman to Hamilton and one of the most reliable qualifiers of the hybrid era. He knows how to provide no-BS, structured feedback and what a winning car should feel like.
Perez, the tyre whisperer, a Monaco GP winner and one of the best strategy drivers on the grid. He may not be the fastest in qualifying, but give him decent and predictable machinery, and he will pull the car across the line on tyres anyone else would have blown ten laps ago.
Both have raced through rule changes, development cycles, and the politics of F1. For Cadillac, that institutional knowledge is gold when trying to shortcut the painful rookie team phase.
Marketability and PR Value
This lineup also works wonders off the track.
Perez brings a massive Latin American fanbase with him. Mexico will instantly rally around Cadillac, and that’s a market both F1 and GM are keen to tap.
Bottas, meanwhile, has transformed from a quiet Finn into one of the most likeable personalities in the paddock. His “Finnish Cowboy” vibe and growing following give Cadillac and edge in global relatability and will play very well in their home market.
Together they offer Cadillac both reach and personality. They’re not just drivers. They’re PR assets.
What Were the Alternatives?
Cadillac could have gone for young blood. Drivers like Theo Pourchaire, Felipe Drugovich and Arvid Lindblad were all rumoured at one point or another, but going that route is risky. Rookies are unpredictable and for a brand new team, there is plenty of unknowns already.
They could have gone for a high profile driver. Both Fernando Alonso and George Russel were floated, but their high price tags and potential PR liabilities when the team don’t provide a race winning car could quickly turn in to a bad investment.
And then there was the IndyCar angle. It was long speculated that Cadillac was dead-set on having a driver from the US racing series in their car, fuelling rumours that Colton Herta or Pato O’Ward would take the leap from IndyCar for Formula 1.
But in the end, they decided on Bottas and Perez – and getting experience at a discount. Two guys who know how to develop cars, bring feedback and grind out points in the right cars. For a debuting team, that’s far more valuable than taking a gamble.
What Can We Expect in 2026?
Temper expectations. Cadillac won’t be fighting Red Bull or Ferrari out of the box. But with a steady driver pairing like this, they can aim to be “best of the rest” within two or three seasons, if their budget and commitment remain steady. Bottas and Perez are masters at maximising midfield machinery, and if Cadillac’s car is anywhere near competitive, they will rack up some points.
Don’t expect podiums immediately, but don’t be surprised if we see some surprise results, especially if strategy and attrition plays into Perez’s hands or if Bottas finds his qualifying sweet spot.
On paper, Cadillac has nailed this. They’ve gone for stability, credibility, and marketability in one cost-effective swoop. Sure, it’s not the blockbuster driver lineup some fans dreamed of, but it’s a lineup designed to build a foundation.
And in Formula 1, foundations are key.
The Rest of the Stories This Week:
- 2026 regulations will include circuit specific energy limits
- The FIA have increased the pit lane speed limit from 60 to 80 km/h at Zandvoort
- Valtteri Bottas will serve a five place penalty in his first race for Cadillac
- Cadillac will test in a rival team’s car ahead of the 2026 season
- Cadillac has shut down rumours of Christian Horner heading for the team
- McLaren announced Mastercard as their title sponsor from 2026
- Tommy Hilfiger joins Cadillac as their apparel partner
- The F1 movie passed $600 million at box office
- Minister of Sport says there are no plans to bring back F1 to Malaysia
- Dennis Hauger clinched the 2025 INDY NXT championship
- iRacing will produce a standalone INDYCAR game in 2026
- Antonio Felix da Costa is set to leave Porsche in Formula E
- China could host at least four Formula E rounds
That’s it for this week, thank you for being here.
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