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Cadillac joins the Formula 1 grid in 2026 with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as drivers.

The team confirmed on Tuesday that the drivers signed multi-year contracts, though financial terms were not disclosed.

“Signing two highly experienced drivers like Bottas and Checo (Perez) is a strong statement of intent,” the team principal said in the announcement. “They have seen it all and understand what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. More importantly, they know how to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, racing instincts, and speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life.”

Cadillac enters F1 as the 11th team on the circuit and only the second American-focused team in F1 history. General Motors is the constructor, operating under the Cadillac brand.

Instead of choosing an American driver, the new team targeted veteran talent. The two drivers have a combined 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 victories.

Perez was released by Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 season, but the 35-year-old recently finished second in the 2023 F1 championship and third in 2022. He has won six Grand Prix races since joining F1 in 2011.

Perez described joining the new F1 team as a “major responsibility.”

“Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career,” he said. “From our first conversations, I could feel the passion and determination behind this project.”

“It is an honor to help build a team that can grow together and eventually compete at the front.”

Bottas, also 35, is from Finland and has driven for four teams from 2013 to 2024, most recently Sauber. He served as a reserve driver for Mercedes and a test driver for McLaren this year.

Bottas finished second overall in 2019 and 2020 and third in 2017 and 2021 while driving for Mercedes, which won the team championship every year from 2017 to 2021.

“This is not just a racing project; it is a long-term vision,” Bottas said.

“It is rare to get the chance to be part of something built from scratch and help shape it into a true contender on the F1 grid.”

“Cadillac is an iconic brand with a major legacy in American motorsport, and being part of its entry into the global stage of F1 is incredibly special for me,” he added. “I look forward to representing the American racing spirit on the world’s greatest circuits.”

Formula 1

Formula 1 is the highest class of international auto racing for single-seater formula racing cars, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Its modern championship format began in 1950, evolving from the European Grand Prix motor racing of the 1920s and 1930s. It has since grown into a massive global sporting spectacle, renowned for its cutting-edge technology, elite drivers, and prestigious events like the Monaco Grand Prix.

Cadillac

Cadillac is a luxury automobile brand founded in 1902 and named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the French explorer who established Detroit, Michigan. It became known for its innovative engineering and stylish designs, earning the nickname “Standard of the World.” Today, it remains a prominent American luxury marque under the General Motors umbrella.

General Motors

General Motors is an American multinational corporation founded in 1908 that revolutionized the automobile industry by consolidating several brands, including Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Chevrolet, under one holding company. It became the world’s largest automaker for much of the 20th century and was instrumental in popularizing mass production techniques and creating a diverse range of vehicles for every market segment.

Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing is a highly successful Formula One team founded in 2005 after the energy drink company Red Bull purchased the Jaguar F1 team. It has since become one of the sport’s most dominant forces, winning multiple Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships, most notably with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Mercedes

“Mercedes” most commonly refers to the German luxury automobile brand, Mercedes-Benz, which was officially formed in 1926 from the merger of Karl Benz’s and Gottlieb Daimler’s companies. The brand’s history is rooted in the invention of the first practical automobiles in the late 19th century, and its three-pointed star logo symbolizes a vision of universal motorization. Today, it is globally recognized as a premier manufacturer of luxury vehicles, buses, and trucks.

McLaren

McLaren is a British manufacturer of high-performance luxury sports and racing cars, founded in 1963 by New Zealand-born racer and engineer Bruce McLaren. The company has a storied history in Formula One, where it is one of the most successful teams of all time. Today, it is renowned for producing technologically advanced, road-legal supercars that are heavily influenced by its motorsport heritage.

Sauber

I am unable to provide a summary for “Sauber” as it does not refer to a specific, widely recognized place or cultural site. The term is most commonly associated with the Sauber Motorsport AG company, a Swiss Formula One racing team and engineering firm.