Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has reacted to Cadillac’s decision to sign Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for its 2026 campaign as the team enters the championship for the first time next season. The pundit has backed the American team’s decision, but questions whether a more youthful option could prove to be a safer decision for the long term.
Tuesday brought confirmation from Cadillac that it would be racing with 10-time grand prix winner Bottas and six-time race winner Perez, with the two drivers spearheading the team’s first season as the 11th team on the F1 grid. With a combined 26 seasons to their names, the two bring a wealth of experience.
Speaking on Sky Sport’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher was confident in the choice.
“You’ve got two drivers who have already shown they can win races. That’s not something many can claim in Formula 1, that’s just the reality. And you’ve got two drivers who have worked with two different engine manufacturers and come from top teams.
“Those are already very important credentials. Plus, one of them has been alongside Max Verstappen and the other one alongside Lewis Hamilton. So they’re bringing something valuable with them. In that sense, it makes sense.
“I’m also genuinely happy for both of them. I know what it feels like to leave Formula 1 with unfinished business, without having achieved everything you wanted. That creates a natural desire to come back and prove yourself.”
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The German did, however, question whether this choice would suit Cadillac for the long term, adding that a rookie can be equally as successful while also setting up the team for the future.
“Now, whether I personally would have made the same decision—gone straight for two experienced guys—I’m not sure. Because, as we’ve seen this year, young talent can be incredibly successful too. From a long-term perspective, you might also want to take a forward-looking decision that sets you up for the future. But both of these drivers are, of course, excellent.”
There are countless benefits of having two extremely experienced and talented drivers in its cars, though.
“What they have now are two drivers people know, who won’t break the car, who are careful. And that’s important in a debut season—to have consistency. Being 35 is by no means old in Formula 1, but it comes with a lot of experience, and both will probably help steer development in the same direction.
“At the moment, there’s no need to rush. In a team that’s still being built, it’s crucial to have drivers you don’t need to babysit—guys you don’t have to explain things to, because they already know how to do it. That was likely the main reason behind the decision.”
Bottas has been a reserve driver for Mercedes this season, sitting out of a full-time racing seat after leaving Sauber at the end of 2024.
“As for Bottas, the real question is how much raw speed he still has. I think spending a year on the sidelines changes a driver. But it could actually help him, because it forces you to reflect, to recognise the areas where you need to improve, and to come back with renewed motivation. That could be a real advantage for the team now.”
Perez lost his seat at Red Bull following a disappointing drive for the team in 2024. But as proven this year, the seat beside Max Verstappen seems to be hostile to its occupant.
“With Perez, it’s true that he never became world champion, but he was always close to Verstappen, often on the podium, and he played a key role in helping Max secure the title—like when he held up Hamilton. He was quick. Even on days when Verstappen wasn’t at his best, Perez was usually right there.
“But last season was really, really poor. And even before that, the gap between him and Max had grown significantly. Of course, you can argue that others didn’t fare much better, but now the real question is: where is he at?
“Is he really on Bottas’s level—or maybe even better? If so, then like Alex Albon, he has a good chance to rehabilitate his career. That’s just the way it is.
“Now we’ll have to watch closely how it develops.”
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