Cadillac Name Sergio Pérez And Valtteri Bottas As Drivers For Debut F1 Season

Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will beryllium backmost connected nan Formula One starting grid adjacent play aft Cadillac announced nan signing of nan seasoned drivers arsenic nan team’s debut pairing.

The Mexican and Finn person multi-year deals, nan General Motors-backed outfit said connected Tuesday.

Pérez, a six-times title winner, and Bottas, who took 10 victories for Mercedes, are some 35 and person unfinished business aft being dropped by nan Red Bull and Sauber teams respectively successful 2024.

Cadillac’s line-up was expected, though immoderate younger prospects had been touted.

“We judge their experience, their activity and their method acumen are really what we need,” squad CEO Dan Towriss told reporters. “It’s nan correct operation – nan correct drivers astatine nan correct clip – and we’re humbled by their belief successful america successful this project.”

The brace spent years alongside 2 of nan sport’s greats, Pérez pinch four-time world champion Max Verstappen astatine Red Bull and Bottas arsenic sidekick to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton astatine Mercedes.

They besides person much than 500 title starts betwixt past – Pérez has 281 and Bottas 246 – and a mixed 106 podium appearances.

Towriss said Pérez successful peculiar was keen to put “in nan rearview mirror” his past play pinch Red Bull erstwhile he suffered a melodramatic slump.

“We had questions, we had scepticism... and he answered each of our questions, passed our tests pinch flying colours,” Towriss added.

Cadillac, who will usage Ferrari powerfulness units until 2029 erstwhile General Motors hopes to person its own, look a steep learning curve arsenic nan 11th squad astatine nan commencement of a caller motor era.

Pérez and Bottas – nan second serving arsenic Mercedes reserve this play – said they were excited to beryllium starting afresh.

“This isn’t conscionable a racing project; it’s a semipermanent vision. It’s not each time that you get a chance to beryllium portion of thing being built from nan crushed up and helping style it into thing that genuinely belongs connected nan F1 grid,” said Bottas. “I’ve had nan grant of moving pinch immoderate of nan champion teams successful nan world, and I tin already spot nan aforesaid professionalism and hunger here.”

Cadillac will beryllium nan 5th squad of Pérez’s career, not including Racing Point which was a continuation of Force India nether different name, and nan Mexican looked guardant to penning different chapter.

“I’m proud to beryllium portion of specified an eager and meaningful task from nan very beginning,” he said. “Together I judge we tin thief style this squad into a existent contender.”

Team main Graeme Lowdon trumpeted a “bold awesome of intent” for a US squad that yet wants to person astatine slightest 1 American driver and beryllium challenging for wins and championships.

“They’ve seen it each and they cognize what it takes to win successful Formula One. But much importantly, they understand what it intends to thief build a team,” he said. “Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of people their velocity will beryllium invaluable arsenic we bring this squad to life.”

Towriss and General Motors president Mark Reuss recognised Mexico was a awesome marketplace for nan carmaker but said commercialized considerations had not been a facet successful driver selection.