With Valtteri Bottas and Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez as their drivers, Cadillac is betting big on experience, stability and unfinished business for their F1 debut in 2026
When Valtteri Bottas and Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez lost their seats at the end of 2024, most of us thought, “Well, that’s that—end of an era.” Both had written solid chapters in the F1 story, but the narrative seemed to have closed. Fast forward to now and guess who’s rolling up in 2026 for the ultimate redemption arc? Yep—Bottas and Checo are back, and they’re bringing Cadillac with them.
That’s right, America’s latest F1 dream machine, Cadillac (backed by General Motors and Andretti), has officially signed Bottas and Checo to headline their debut season. If you’re still blinking in disbelief—don’t. This isn’t a fever dream; it’s happening. And honestly, it’s exactly the kind of spice this sport needed.
At first glance, some might say: why go for two drivers in their mid-30s instead of rookies? The answer is simple—experience, leadership, and stability. Between them, Bottas and Checo bring 527 race starts, 16 wins and countless podiums. They’ve both been through the wars—whether it’s Bottas battling alongside Hamilton at Mercedes or Checo surviving the Red Bull pressure cooker. If you’re a brand-new team trying to navigate the shark tank that is
F1, you don’t want wide-eyed rookies. You want battle-hardened pros who know how to wrestle points out of chaos.
And let’s not forget the redemption factor. Both men left the grid with unfinished business. Bottas, who once looked like the heir apparent at Mercedes, is still hungry for another shot at proving himself. Checo, dropped by Red Bull despite his loyal wingman duties, now has a chance to lead a team rather than play second fiddle.
The timing couldn’t be juicier. The 2026 F1 regulations promise to shake things up in a big way. Engines are going hybrid 2.0, with more electrical power and sustainable fuels. Cars will be lighter, more efficient and (hopefully) better for wheel-to-wheel racing. In short: a reset button for the sport. That means Cadillac doesn’t have to play catch-up against a decade
of Red Bull domination or battle against the powerhouse Mclaren; everyone is starting from a semi-fresh slate.
Plus, let’s be real: an 11th team on the grid just makes F1 feel bigger, better and more unpredictable. Cadillac is gunning to be more than just “another American team.” They’ve got the General Motors war chest, Andretti’s racing DNA and now a driver line up that proves they are here to win.
So, what’s in store for us fans? They’re not going to win the championship straight out of the gate (let’s be realistic), but they could absolutely play giant killers—snatching podiums, upsetting strategies and injecting fresh drama into the grid.
At the heart of it, the real thrill isn’t Cadillac’s grand entrance—it’s watching two battle-tested drivers get a chance to rewrite their legacies. Bottas and Checo are back, baby, and F1 just got a whole lot more interesting.
