Cadillac appear to finally be making a move in the Formula 1 driver market ahead of their debut next season.
Team principal Graeme Lowdon has been biding his time and considering a variety of drivers.
He’s been regularly visiting Formula 1 race weekends, talking to representatives and drivers themselves about the prospect of racing for Cadillac in 2026.
One of the drivers who has been most closely linked with Cadillac this year is Sergio Perez.
F1 Oversteer exclusively reported earlier this year that Perez was Cadillac’s number one target for the upcoming campaign.
The Mexican driver has vast experience, and his difficult time at Red Bull last year is being put into stark context by the struggles of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
James Hinchcliffe has his fingers crossed that Cadillac will sign Perez, but it looks like the American team are about to make a move for their first driver.
Valtteri Bottas looks set to be announced as Cadillac’s first driver, which is likely to upset Perez’s camp, who had one request for their driver.
READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty ImagesSergio Perez’s camp didn’t want to be Cadillac’s second driver for the 2026 F1 season
A report from Fox Sports AU has shared more details about Cadillac’s search for two drivers.
It’s believed that Cadillac are still deciding on whether to go ahead with two experienced drivers, or if they would like to follow Sauber’s lead and pair Bottas with a younger driver.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s emergence alongside Nico Hulkenberg is likely to give the likes of Felipe Drugovich and potentially even Mick Schumacher hope that they could be on the grid next season.
Yuki Tsunoda’s agent has spoken to Cadillac, with his Red Bull future far from guaranteed.
The report suggests that ‘Pérez’s camp is rumoured not to want to be the second driver on the list’ and are pushing to get a deal over the line.
They’re concerned that a potential change in Cadillac’s plan and late competition for the seat could be slowing down a deal between Perez and F1’s 11th team.
The likes of Zhou Guanyu, Jack Doohan and even Paul Aron will be putting their hats in the ring to be Cadillac’s number two driver.
But Perez might be about to suddenly find himself under far more pressure to return to Formula 1 if Bottas is confirmed in the coming days.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
Cadillac previously denied Sergio Perez deal for 2026 Formula 1 season was done
Perez has a huge fanbase, and Cadillac would be wise to announce any potential deal before the Mexico City Grand Prix at the end of October.
He would bring significant sponsorship, although with the backing of General Motors, that might not be that important to Lowdon’s team.
Grand Prix starts281Pole positions3Podiums39Wins6Fastest laps12Points1638Best championship result2nd (2023)Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 career stats
Cadillac have had to previously deny Perez has joined the team, but that doesn’t mean a deal can’t be struck in the future.
It makes sense that Perez’s camp wanted to be Cadillac’s first choice when they haven’t decided how many experienced heads they want in the team.
If Bottas’s presence in the paddock over the past six months has given him the edge over Perez in negotiations, then the 35-year-old will be left wondering whether he made the right choice distancing himself from Formula 1 since his Red Bull exit.