Pérez returns: absent in Mexico, ready for Cadillac in 2026

One of the key figures in the new project is Mario Andretti, the former Italian-born racing driver and 1978 world champion with Lotus. Together with his son Michael, he tried for years to bring Andretti Global into Formula 1, encountering strong resistance. Now, thanks to the backing of the American giant GM, Mario Andretti crowns his goal, albeit in the role of super-consultant and with his son now out of the project.

The leverage that convinced Liberty Media to accept Cadillac's request to enter Formula 1 is its positioning as one of the quintessential US luxury car manufacturers, an element of great value for the group's strategy, which aims to consolidate the Circus' following in the United States. For the current management of Formula 1, it is not only the immediate gains from a new entry that count, but also the prospects for future growth.

In fact, the hypothesis of a twelfth team is not ruled out, although the proposal meets with opposition from the teams already present, worried about having to divide an increasingly crowded economic 'cake'. As Stefano Domenicali pointed out, 'we will only evaluate an offer of great relevance, because I think we have already reached a point where there is no more room: from a logistical point of view we are at the limit'.

For Cadillac, experience in Formula 1 may be a historical novelty, but the American manufacturer has a good tradition in motorsport. It debuted in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT Championship in 2004 and, since 2011, has participated in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Class, where it has won the manufacturers' title for four consecutive seasons (2012-2015). With the Cadillac DPi-V.R model, introduced in 2017, it has taken part in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, winning championships from 2017 to 2020 and, most recently, in 2023 with the V-Series.R.

The Detroit manufacturer is also a division of the General Motors group, which from 2028 will also produce the power units in-house. In the 2026 and 2027 seasons, the new American team will instead race with Ferrari's engine and gearbox, while waiting to complete the development of its own unit.

The strong US identity will also be highlighted by the sponsors and the involvement of American drivers, at least in perspective. The main sponsors include Tommy Hilfiger, the historic fashion house founded by the US designer of the same name, and Jim Beam, the famous Kentucky whisky distillery: two iconic brands of Made in USA chosen to represent the United States in the Circus. As we shall see, the decision to engage the American Colton Herta as third driver, coming from IndyCar (Andretti Team), is a clear signal in this direction.

The big absentee from the Mexico City Grand Prix is Sergio Pérez, but the home-grown star will return to Formula 1 in 2026 at the wheel of the Cadillac, flanked by Valtteri Bottas. The US team has chosen to bet on the experience of two veterans: together, the drivers bring 26 Formula 1 seasons and a global fan following.

Both have raced for top teams during their careers: Pérez with Red Bull, during the years of domination by teammate Max Verstappen, and Bottas with Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, alongside multiple champion Lewis Hamilton. Two former 'second drivers' who now find in Cadillac the opportunity for a new challenge, contributing to the development of an ambitious and long-term oriented project.

Cadillac's line-up is a guarantee in terms of the development of the single-seater. For a rookie team, being able to count on experienced drivers is a great advantage: it allows for more precise technical feedback and constant support in the evolution of the car during the championship. Their in-depth knowledge of race dynamics, tyre management and strategies makes them fundamental resources for accelerating the team's growth. On the contrary, focusing on young talent, however brilliant, would have meant a more uncertain and risky performance in the initial phase of the project.

In addition, for Cadillac, choosing veteran drivers also has a commercial advantage. With Sergio Pérez, in particular, the team benefits from the following of a country in strong economic growth and, most likely, from the financial support of Telmex, the Mexican telecommunications giant. Throughout Pérez's career, Telmex has always been at his side, supporting the teams he raced for with more than 100 million dollars.

Even Valtteri Bottas, although representing Finland, a country of smaller economic size, brings with him 6 million followers on Instagram and a solid, recognisable business image in the paddock.

In addition to Pérez and Bottas, Cadillac has added the two reserve drivers Pietro Fittipaldi and Colton Herta to the team. The latter, born in 2000, is an American IndyCar star, where he races with the Andretti Autosport team. Despite winning his first IndyCar race at only 18 years of age, setting a record for precociousness, Herta is now going through a career stall and is back in the orbit of Formula 1 after having come close several times in the past.

Herta had already been on F1's radar in 2021, when the Andretti team started negotiations to take over the majority of the shares of Alfa Romeo-Sauber (now Audi), listing him as a potential driver for the 2022 season: the deal did not materialise. The following year he signed a contract to test with McLaren, racing at Portimão and the Circuit de Catalunya. During 2022 there was also talk of a possible landing in AlphaTauri for 2023, but the F1 debut did not happen, also due to insufficient points to obtain the super-licence.

In 2026, Herta will say goodbye to Formula Indy and enter the world of F1, starting in Formula 2 with the Rodin Motorsport team and serving as a reserve driver for Cadillac. The move from Formula 2 is strategic: it allows the driver to familiarise himself with the circuits on the F1 calendar, gain experience and prepare for his Formula 1 debut with Cadillac - even if it means appearing badly against younger rivals.

After Logan Sargeant's unsuccessful experience in Williams until 2024, the American public now has a new opportunity to see a home driver in Formula 1. An important strategic move to capture the US market: having an American driver in an American team, as Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon points out: "Having an American driver in an American Formula 1 team is a moment of enormous significance, not only for our team, but for all of US motorsport. Colton embodies the passion, ambition and competitive spirit that define the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and we are proud that he will be carrying the American flag with us on the world stage.

The Cadillac team's other reserve driver, in the role of Development Driver, is Pietro Fittipaldi, a Brazilian-American driver born in 1996 and grandson of two-time Formula One world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

After his early successes in karts, Fittipaldi continued his career in different categories, winning the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship in 2011, the Protyre Formula Renault in 2014, the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 in 2015-2016 and the Formula V8 3.5 in 2017. In 2018, he made his Formula 1 debut as a reserve driver for Haas, replacing Romain Grosjean after the Sakhir 2020 Grand Prix accident. He continued as a third Haas driver until 2023, taking part in tests and free practice sessions. In recent years, he has instead moved into endurance racing. This broad experience certainly makes him an excellent driver to support Cadillac in the development of the F1 project.

The Mexico City Grand Prix is run at the Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack, characterised by an altitude of more than 2,200 metres above sea level and a long straight where, in 2016, Valtteri Bottas reached a top speed of 372 km/h, the current official Formula 1 record. In recent years Verstappen and Red Bull have often shown good performances on circuits at altitude, such as Spielberg, and, given the current state of form, it is fair to expect a further show of strength from the Dutchman to further reduce the gap to the McLarens.

Grand Prix times will again be in the evening for spectators in Italy. Qualifying on Saturday will be at 23.00, while the race will be run from 21.00 on Sunday.