Sergio Perez has just reignited his Formula 1 career by finding a way back onto the grid with the new Cadillac team for 2026.
The 35-year-old’s four-year stay at Red Bull was cut short due to poor performance last season, only for the two drivers who have followed him to do much worse.
As a result, Perez’s reputation has improved, despite being off the grid for nine months. His experience heading into the 2026 F1 regulations will be incredibly valuable.
He will be joined by Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac, as they form the oldest partnership, as well as being the two drivers with the most points and no drivers’ championship to show for it in history.
By going for an older duo, Cadillac risk making one big mistake, because their line-up isn’t very geared towards success in the future.
An under-pressure F1 driver will be absolutely thrilled with the announcement, as it means that he might now be safe from the axe for 2026.
READ MORE: Cadillac have just made a 2026 F1 driver decision that might seriously upset Sergio Perez’s camp
Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSergio Perez just avoided contract ‘mistake’ at Cadillac which he thinks ‘damaged’ his Formula 1 career
Cadillac have outlined their ‘main mission’ for Perez and want to see him push the development of their car for the next few seasons.
The signature of a multi-year agreement does give the Mexican driver some stability for now and offers him the chance to lead this project.
By penning more than just a one-year deal, Perez has successfully avoided one ‘mistake’ he made when signing for McLaren back in 2013.
“How can you say no [to McLaren]? It was quite an obvious thing, and I had to say, basically goodbye to the Ferrari academy,” he said on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast in 2018. “I went to McLaren. I think the mistake there, was to sign a one-year deal.
“I think my management at the time didn’t do a solid job with the contract. That was a sad thing, and I think that has damaged a bit, my reputation in Formula 1.”
READ MORE: Why Sergio Perez was ‘kicked’ from McLaren’s Formula 1 team after struggling in 2013
How did Sergio Perez perform in his last few F1 races for Red Bull?
The last eight races of Perez’s Red Bull affair were quite miserable, as he finished higher than 10th just once.
Overall, he managed eighth in the standings, which was a respectable showing, but given how he started the season, he will have wanted a lot more.
With four podiums in his first five races, he looked like being a real rear-gunner for teammate Max Verstappen, but as the team’s car fell off, so did he.
Now he has a clean slate and a fresh opportunity to lead a new project to the top. Without any technical partnership with existing teams, it could take some time for Cadillac to get up to speed, but when they do, they have the drivers to be able to capitalise.