The F1 paddock has been reacting to the news that Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will both return to the grid for Cadillac in 2026, with a number of drivers welcoming the announcement as well as giving their take on the challenge ahead for the veteran racers.
Amid months of speculation over who the new team would chose as their line-up for what will be their inaugural season in Formula 1, it was confirmed on Tuesday that the squad have opted for Perez and Bottas in a pairing that brings with it a wealth of experience.
One of the first to give their reaction during Thursday’s media day at the Dutch Grand Prix was Max Verstappen, Perez’s former team mate at Red Bull between 2021 and 2024. The World Champion said: “When I saw the news come out, I sent a message to him. Of course [I’m] very happy for him that he got a seat.
“He’s a great guy and we always got along very well, so I’m happy to see him back on the grid. How he’s going to perform I think will also depend on how good the car is going to be, so it’s a bit difficult to say at the moment. But it’s a new opportunity and I’m sure he’s very excited for it.”
Perez was left without a seat in 2025 following a difficult campaign with Red Bull last year, resulting in both parties agreeing to part ways with immediate effect at the end of the 2024 season.
Pushed on whether he expects the Mexican to get back to his best at Cadillac, Verstappen responded: “It’s a fresh start now. From his side, one half [of a season] or a season doesn’t define what you can do.
“I think he’s also quite easy in [his approach to] that – some people maybe dwell on it a bit more, but for Checo it’s a new start, [he’ll be] excited, and new cars also. And he has shown a lot of great things even before he got to Red Bull [and] during the Red Bull times. He just needs to go in there, enjoy it again and have a good time.”
With Perez having raced for the likes of McLaren and Force India prior to his Red Bull stint, Verstappen believes that this experience could prove valuable for the new Cadillac outfit.
“He has driven for a lot of different teams, so he knows a lot of things about how teams work,” the Dutchman explained. “Every single team works a little bit in a different way, so that’s already I think a very interesting trait, that sometimes it’s nice to understand what people are good at or what some are worse at – that’s how it goes.”
Another driver to understand the benefit of experience is Fernando Alonso, who echoed Verstappen’s view when asked about Cadillac’s decision to opt for that asset over youth.
“It brings for sure some good things in the way that you understand the cars, you understand the needs,” said the Aston Martin driver. “They both have been working with top teams. Valtteri and Mercedes, Checo and Red Bull, so they know the philosophy that you need to apply every weekend to stay at the top.
“I think for a new team, for sure, they bring some great experience and some great value. I’m happy for them, happy to welcome them again on the grid and have fun next year.”
Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, hailed the return of two “unique” personalities to the sport, with the Alpine racer commenting: “I think it’s amazing for the sport. They are two amazing characters, very successful F1 drivers and being very much part of it over the last 10 years.
“Getting race wins, fighting for podiums, and they are two unique characters in their personalities. I think it’s great to have them both back in the paddock and I’m sure they’ll add good spice to the racing.”
Alex Albon, meanwhile, reflected on how much of a challenge returning after a year on the sidelines can be, having experienced this himself when he found himself back on the grid with Williams in 2022 following a season spent as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull.
“I would say one of the benefits to my year – and I think also to Checo and Valtteri’s year – is the regulation reset, so you don’t get the drivers carrying the experience of the last few years in that car regulation, and then it’s a bit more of a level playing field when you return,” Albon conceded.
“I don’t know how involved they were in terms of keeping sharp and training and driving or whatnot. I remember in my year I was doing some Pirelli tests and doing a lot of simulator work, which definitely helped.
“We’re in slightly different positions because they have a lot of experience, so they could probably get away with not doing anything [in their year off], but my year was a bit more spent on trying to learn and still make sure that I was as prepared as I could have been for my Williams seat.
“I don’t think with their experience they’ve missed out on much, but I think they’ll fall into things pretty quickly.”
