Sergio Perez is coming back to F1 in 2026 as a driver for Cadillac, a night and day switch from his previous stint as a Red Bull Racing driver.
Sergio Perez after wining the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2023. Photo: RacePictures.
After a troubled 2024 season Perez was ousted from Red Bull, a blessing in disguise says the Mexican as quoted by Autoracer.it. “I didn’t feel it at the time, but I needed a break,” he says.
“When you’re in this sport, you’re always thinking about next year, the next race, the next contract. It’s like you’re on autopilot. But when you’re forced out, like I was, you realize a lot and see the sport differently.”
His return with Cadillac has breathed new life into his love for F1 after a failed finish to his spell at Red Bull which he hints at having forced him out of love for the sport.
“I feel like I’ve fallen in love with F1 all over again,” he said. “It’s important to remember that my last six months at Red Bull were very difficult for me, in every way. I’d started to lose some motivation towards this sport, and I can’t allow that because it’s a sport that has given me everything.”
Perez: ‘Fantastic to have a team you can influence’
Perez then praised the American outfit for their listening capabilities, which Perez suggests he did not have before, in yet another veiled dig at Red Bull.
“It was great to discuss things with the team,” he continued. “I focused on some specific aspects, giving them guidance. It’s fantastic to have a team you feel you can influence and ask for certain things.
“For me, it’s a bit irrelevant where we start. What matters most is how quickly we can progress. I want to push the team forward from day one. I think we’ll be able to surprise a lot of people. This is a goal for us, to be able to make a strong impact in Formula 1 from day one.”
For Perez, his sights are set on making his F1 comeback a triumphant one. “I consider this my main, big, last project in this sport and I want to ensure I make a successful return,” he concluded.
Perez is confident Cadillac will surprise the F1 gridSergio Perez expressed confidence that Cadillac will surprise the Formula 1 grid as the new American team prepares for its 2026 debut with Perez and Valtteri Bottas as drivers. Read his comments here.
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