There are still several races left in the 2025 Formula One season, but Cadillac is already looking ahead to the future. Cadillac announced its partnership with Andretti Global to enter F1 back in 2023, with the bid being officially approved in March. The team has yet to announce who will officially be joining the team, but rumors are now swirling about the return of two major players.
Sergio Pérez is expected to make his return to F1 thanks to Cadillac. The Mexican driver was the original second seat with Max Verstappen, but lost the position in 2024. He would be an excellent choice to bring to the new team due to his expertise in face recognition and extensive experience. Pérez has 281 Grand Prix starts and six wins on his record. His reputation seemed to be hurt once he was let go by Red Bull; however, second-seat problems with the team and Verstappen have eased people’s worries that Pérez is no longer fit to race.
Commercially, Pérez is the perfect choice. He brings in a major Mexican audience, which is perfect for the North American team’s brand. One issue he could face is the fact that he hasn’t had a car or a reserve seat all year. While that might be a problem for some, Pérez has been a part of several different teams, showing he’s able to adapt to new cars easily. He’s also said he’s willing to find a new project if the right offer comes his way.
Pérez is already expected to take a spot with Cadillac, and new reports show that Valtteri Bottas might also be ready to call him a teammate. Bottas is a senior driver known for being cool, calm, and collected; the perfect personality for a freshman team. He’s currently a reserve driver for Mercedes after his contract was not renewed by Kick Sauber. He’s had great success in F1, with 10 wins and 67 podium finishes.
If Cadillac wants to build a brand, Bottas would be a perfect fit. He has a major social media presence, bringing in new and old F1 fans. He’s even used that presence to poke fun at the people talking about his possible move to the new team. Bottas has been considered a front-running candidate to take a vacant seat all year, but rookie talent seems to be pushing him out. A new spot on the grid is reportedly his current motivator, and a signing with Cadillac might fit perfectly.
There are two American rookies who could also take a spot with Cadillac. The first is Colton Herta, an IndyCar driver already under Andretti’s supervision. He hasn’t seemed completely thrilled with the idea, stating his only focus is on his current team. He might decide to stick to IndyCar, as he continues to find success and reaches for the Indianapolis 500. The second driver is Jak Crawford. The American driver is currently in the running to take the F2 title with DAMS Lucas Oil. He’s voiced some interest in the move, saying that he feels Cadillac would be a good team choice if he does enter F1 next season.
Formula One fans have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of Cadillac’s seats since the company first announced its entry into the field. While rookies might be a good way to grow a team, that’s what every other F1 team is currently doing. No one expects Cadillac to do amazing things next year, especially since this is the first time the company will ever be on the grid. A better approach would be to feature veterans like Pérez and Bottas and build the brand around them. Even looking past their amazing racing records, both drivers would do great commercially and could help bring in a more North American audience.
Bottas, at the very least, deserves to be out on the grid again; plus, seeing Pérez race against Verstappen would be a golden opportunity.
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