Cadillac's Entry into F1: A New Era and a Fresh Start
The highly anticipated arrival of the Cadillac Formula 1 team in 2026 marks a significant turning point in the sport's history. With an 11th team joining the grid, the future of Formula 1 is set to be revolutionized by a host of new technical regulations governing car design and power sources.
However, amidst this wave of change, two familiar faces in the F1 world are poised to make a triumphant return with Cadillac: drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
In an interview with the BBC podcast F1: Back at Base, Perez expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming journey, stating, 'I definitely want to go all the way with this team. I want to enjoy the journey with them and I'm pretty confident that we will be able to progress extremely quickly.'
The first Cadillac F1 car took to the track at Silverstone on January 16, with Perez at the helm. Bottas, who remained active in the F1 scene as a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2025, is also eagerly awaiting the next chapter of his career.
Both Perez and Bottas have followed similar career paths in F1. Perez made his debut with Sauber in 2011, two years before Bottas joined Williams. Together, they have contributed significantly to their respective teams' success, with Bottas playing a pivotal role in Mercedes' five constructors' world championships and Perez achieving two during his four-year stint with Red Bull, which concluded in 2024.
Cadillac's new driver pairing will leverage their extensive experience to accelerate the team's growth and development.
Perez highlighted the team's collective expertise, saying, 'We've been through the entire paddock, seen it all, and done it all in the sport. I think we have a great combination of drivers.'
Bottas echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the unique challenge of starting with a new team, 'It's a different sort of challenge. Being part of building a new team really excited me about this project.'
The synergy between Perez and Bottas extends beyond the racetrack. Bottas praised Perez's easy-going nature and shared passion for racing, noting, 'He really seems like an easy guy to work with. He loves racing like I do and he doesn't do politics. He just wants to drive, race, and make progress.'
The anticipation surrounding Cadillac's entry into F1 is further heightened by the involvement of Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves. Reeves, who has been following the sport since his childhood, is producing a documentary about Cadillac's journey to the grid, similar to his award-winning series about Brawn GP.
Reeves expressed his admiration for Cadillac's dedication, stating, 'I'm really struck by their passion and commitment to the project. They have a strong bond forged in the fire of trying to get an F1 entry. The team they've put together has lots of experience.'
Cadillac's entry into F1 coincides with a pivotal moment in the sport's evolution, marked by significant technical rule changes in 2026. These changes will impact both the cars' aerodynamics and power units, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and excitement throughout the grid.
Reeves acknowledged the potential impact of these changes, saying, 'There's so many hopes and ambitions, and it'll either be celebratory or it'll be 'OK… let's keep pushing, let's keep going.' It's not only for Cadillac but all of the teams, which is kind of what's cool about this moment. It doesn't come around often in that it's going to be the same stakes for everybody.'
General Motors, the US car giant, had its F1 entry formally approved in March 2025, and the team was named after its luxury Cadillac brand. Based in Silverstone and Charlotte, North Carolina, the transatlantic team has had a year to prepare for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8, 2026.
The F1: Back at Base podcast series, which features exclusive interviews with Perez and Bottas, is available on BBC Sounds, with new episodes released weekly on the F1: Chequered Flag feed.
