The drivers will have a combined age of 72 when the first race rolls around in Australia, and more than 500 Grand Prix starts between them.<\/p>\n
Team principal Graeme Lowdon<\/a> spoke to plenty of drivers before deciding on Bottas and Perez, but the two race winners appear to have been his first choices from the start.<\/p>\n TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN\/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN\/AN\/ARacing BullsN\/AN\/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN\/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers<\/p>\n Perez and Bottas have both signed multi-year deals<\/a>, with next season expected to be a year of learning for Cadillac, rather than a season of trying to compete.<\/p>\n Cadillac aren\u2019t paying for victories and podiums by hiring Perez and Bottas, but instead the previous experience they\u2019ve accrued racing for top teams like Mercedes and Red Bull, as well as smaller outfits like Force India and Sauber.<\/p>\n However, the Mexican driver has managed to insert a \u2018special\u2019 clause in his contract which could end up earning him a lot of money, even if he fails to score a point in 2026.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Cadillac driver Sergio Perez\u2019s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname<\/a><\/p>\n A report from Record MX<\/a> has shared more details about the negotiations between Perez and Cadillac.<\/p>\n They believe that Perez\u2019s multi-year deal has a \u2018base salary\u2019 of \u00a37.4m-a-year [$10m], which is said to be similar to what he earned at Red Bull.<\/p>\n It puts him among the higher earners on the Formula 1 grid<\/a>, and at a similar level to Bottas.<\/p>\n However, a \u2018large part\u2019 of the 35-year-old\u2019s salary is expected to come down to performance bonuses, such as his points tally in the drivers\u2019 championship<\/a> and whether he\u2019s able to achieve any podium or race wins.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also believed Cadillac have added \u2018special bonuses\u2019 to his contract, with an \u2018additional percentage\u2019 of sales from any of Perez\u2019s merchandise going back to the driver.<\/p>\n Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August When Perez was at Red Bull, it was suggested that 65% of the team\u2019s online sales were related to him, which means he could earn millions at Cadillac if he manages to secure a similar ratio.<\/p>\n On top of this, Carlos Slim is still backing Perez<\/a>, with sponsors such as Telcel, Kit Kat and Patron all still set to back the 25-year-old next season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s believed that when everything is taken into account, Perez might have just \u2018one of the most profitable\u2019 deals in modern Formula 1.<\/p>\n READ MORE: All to know about General Motors\u2019 Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers<\/a><\/p>\n Sergio Perez handed Cadillac contract option he never received at Red Bull<\/p>\n Perez might be one of the most experienced drivers in Formula 1 history; however, security is never something he\u2019s had a lot of during his career.<\/p>\n![\"Sergio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2162866871-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mark Thompson\/Getty ImagesSergio Perez could benefit from \u2018special\u2019 merchandise clause in his Cadillac F1 contract<\/p>\n
\n Friday 29th August 10:30 1st Practice Friday 29th August 14:00 2nd Practice Saturday 30th August 09:30 3rd Practice Saturday 30th August 13:00 1st Qualifying Saturday 30th August 13:25 2nd Qualifying Saturday 30th August 13:48 3rd Qualifying Sunday 31st August 13:00 Race <\/p>\n