F1’s worst-kept secret finally confirmed as new American team unveils star driver line-up

One of the worst-kept secrets in Formula 1 has been confirmed, with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas unveiled as the drivers for Cadillac in 2026.

They will become the 11th team on the grid next season, debuting at the Australian Grand Prix.

Pérez was dumped by Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 season despite having been re-signed by the team to a two-year deal just months earlier.

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He was vindicated with his replacement, Liam Lawson, struggling and being replaced after just two races before the next fill-in, Yuki Tsunoda, also failed to hit the ground running early.

Pérez was also linked to talks with Alpine at one point but following months of negotiations is set to sign a multi-year deal with Cadillac instead.

Bottas, meanwhile, also was dropped from the grid after last season, having lost his seat at Sauber, before linking up with Mercedes in a reserve role and McLaren as a test driver.

The 10-time Grand Prix winner previously described Cadillac, who are backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors, as a “very interesting project”.

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“Something new to F1, an American team with maybe a different view to the sport,” he said.

“If I would be there as a driver, it would be actually very interesting because you can start from scratch.

“The team starts from zero. You could actually make a big influence on certain things, which direction to go, and that would be very motivating and rewarding when the success comes.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, meanwhile, backed Bottas for a full-time F1 return earlier in the month, declaring he “deserves a race seat”.

“Valtteri has been part of the Mercedes family for a long, long time,” Wolff said.

“He is a driver that, if some of our guys would have fish poisoning, you put him in the car and he’s going to be absolutely on (the) pace. That’s great to know, that your reserve and third driver is as quick as it gets.

“But obviously, with Valtteri, he deserves a race seat. Hopefully that door is going to open. Watch this space.”