Sergio Perez has been linked with multiple Formula 1 teams amid talk of a potential comeback in 2026. He was absent this year for the first time since 2010 after being let go by Red Bull.<\/p>\n
Cadillac are the favourites to sign Perez<\/a> as they prepare to make their F1 debut in Australia. He could partner Valtteri Bottas, who was a direct rival when they raced for Red Bull and Mercedes.<\/p>\n But Flavio Briatore is also interested in Perez as Franco Colapinto struggles at Alpine<\/a>. The Mexican offers the same commercial incentives in the Latin American region.<\/p>\n TEAMSEATSDRIVER(S) OUT OF CONTRACTRed Bull1Yuki TsunodaMercedes2George Russell & Kimi AntonelliAlpine1Franco ColapintoRacing Bulls2Liam Lawson & Isack HadjarCadillac2N\/AF1 teams with vacancies for 2026<\/p>\n His talks haven\u2019t stopped there. Perez has even spoken to Mercedes<\/a>, though that may have concerned a test role.<\/p>\n With 281 starts, six victories and 39 podiums to his name, he\u2019s an appealing option. His final year at Red Bull was disastrous, but he\u2019s far from the only highly-rated driver to come undone alongside Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n Sergio Perez makes management change as he lines up F1 return<\/p>\n Perez\u2019s former trainer Xavi Martos was asked about the rumours on the Duralavita podcast. Martos remains in contact with the ex-driver and expects to be personally notified if he signs an F1 contract.<\/p>\n Fellow Mexican racer Pato O\u2019Ward expects Perez to return to F1<\/a> because he\u2019s been training hard. And Martos has spotted an even bigger hint \u2013 a change of management.<\/p>\n Perez has parted with Julian Jakobi and is now represented by Lebanese businessman and paddock veteran Khalil Beschir. This strongly indicates his desire to make a comeback.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s one thing that I think people haven\u2019t noticed,\u201d Martos said. \u201cI watched as a spectator and people have never said it. <\/p>\n \u201cCheco has a new manager \u2013 I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve read it. He had Julian, now he has another one. I wonder, why does he have a new manager? <\/p>\n \u201cI think that answers everything. If you don\u2019t want to stop driving, you don\u2019t hire a new manager, at least that wouldn\u2019t occur to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez, who turns 36 in January, is still younger than former teammate Nico Hulkenberg (37), as well as Lewis Hamilton (40) and Fernando Alonso (44).<\/p>\n What Red Bull now think of Sergio Perez after seeing Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson<\/p>\n