Sergio Perez eyes Le Mans comeback with Mick Schumacher ahead of possible F1 return – Veteran Mexican driver Sergio Perez is already planning his next move in motorsport following his departure from Red Bull Racing. After losing his seat in Formula One, Perez is reportedly considering a foray into endurance racing, with a possible entry into the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in particular.
The move would put him on a potential collision course with Mick Schumacher, who will also be competing in the endurance classic this year. However, Perez’s long-term ambition remains clear – he wants to return to Formula One.
According to a report in Spanish sports daily *Marca*, the 34-year-old is weighing up his options for a move to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2025. His participation at Le Mans, possibly in the GT category, could be the first step in a new racing chapter. However, the details remain unclear as the report does not mention which team Perez could join.
With his vast experience and high-profile backing, Perez’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport is already being mapped out. His ultimate goal is to secure a seat in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with one team in particular standing out as a potential destination – Cadillac.
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A forced exit from Red Bull
Despite having a contract extension until 2026, Sergio Perez was forced out of Red Bull ahead of the 2025 season. The team opted for a major shake-up following a turbulent year in which the Mexican’s performances were widely criticised. His struggles in qualifying and frequent inconsistencies on race day proved costly, prompting Red Bull management to rethink their driver line-up.
As a result, Liam Lawson – previously Red Bull’s reserve driver – was promoted to partner Max Verstappen in the main team. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s sister team, the Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), also had no place for Perez. Instead, they opted for rookie Isack Hadjar to make his debut alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
With no seat available for the new season, Perez is now concentrating on securing opportunities in endurance racing while keeping his hopes of a Formula One return alive.
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Perez’s potential Le Mans entry
The Marca report suggests that Perez could follow a growing trend among former F1 drivers to move into endurance racing. The 24 Hours of Le Mans has long been a proving ground for elite drivers seeking success beyond single-seaters, and the WEC has gained increasing recognition as a competitive and high-profile motorsport championship.
Mick Schumacher, a former Haas F1 driver and current WEC Alpine racer, will make his Le Mans debut this year. If Perez joins him on the grid, it could be an exciting reunion between the two, who previously raced together in Formula One.
While Schumacher’s involvement in endurance racing is tied to his Alpine contract, Perez’s entry remains speculative. He has yet to confirm any agreements with a team, although the GT category has been suggested as a possible route.
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Could Cadillac offer Perez a route back to F1?
While his immediate focus may be on endurance racing, Perez’s long-term goal is to make a Formula One comeback in 2026. The emergence of Cadillac as a new team could offer him a viable route back to the grid. Cadillac, in partnership with Andretti Global, is pushing to secure a Formula One entry by 2026, when the sport undergoes a major regulatory overhaul.
According to Marca, Perez’s camp has drawn up a strategic plan to use his experience and commercial appeal to attract Cadillac’s interest. The team is expected to use Colton Herta, an outstanding IndyCar driver, as one of its drivers. However, they are also keen to secure an experienced Formula 1 driver to provide leadership and stability.
Several names have been linked to Cadillac’s future F1 line-up, including former Sauber F1 driver and Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, who is already set to test for the team. However, according to the Spanish publication, Perez is the “favourite” to land a seat.
A major factor in Perez’s favour is the financial backing of Carlos Slim, one of the world’s richest men and a long-time supporter of the Mexican’s career. Slim’s sponsorship, through his Telmex and Claro brands, has played a crucial role in supporting Perez’s journey in Formula One and could be instrumental in persuading Cadillac to take him on board.
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Can Perez find his way back to F1?
While Perez’s future in F1 is uncertain, his experience, marketability and backing from Slim keep him in the conversation for a return. If the Cadillac project successfully secures its place on the grid, the Mexican could be a natural fit to help the team navigate its debut season.
For the time being, endurance racing could serve as a stepping stone – allowing Perez to remain active and competitive while keeping an eye on potential opportunities in F1. The prospect of racing at Le Mans would provide him with a new challenge, while ensuring he remains relevant on the motorsport scene.
With the motorsport world watching closely, Perez’s next move will be crucial. Will he make a splash at Le Mans alongside Mick Schumacher before plotting his return to F1? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: Sergio Perez is not ready to leave the world of racing just yet.
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Between Perez & Bottas, Bottas has more sporting success & also vastly experienced in F1, but ultimately, if Perez definitely wants to make a full-time return, he has the advantage thanks to Carlos Slim, not to mention the Mexican market is Cadillac’s biggest, if not the only, one to my knowledge.
A Perez-Bottas lineup is also an option, but unlikely & the same with Perez-Zhou, albeit Herta is unlikely to accept their offer as he’s spoken about switching to F1 this deep into his professional racing career in a skeptical manner, so Jak Crawford could be their best US driver bet.
Zhou definitely doesn’t stand a chance of getting paired alongside a total series rookie due to his relatively limited F1 racing experience & total lack of sporting success, which puts him at a disadvantage against both Perez & Bottas.
These two aspects also mean that his F1 career would almost certainly be over for good if he failed to make a full-time return after one season, which has effectively been a long-time rule rather than an exception with all such drivers.
All things thus far considered, I reckon Crawford-Perez will be GM Cadillac’s first driver lineup, & Marcus Ericsson most certainly won’t race in F1 again in any case, as he’s simply been away too long for someone without any sporting success in the series, with his sole intention to help the team with simulations, which is a different matter.
Their short-list is & has been relatively small from the get-go, i.e., Herta, Perez, Bottas, Zhou, maybe Crawford, but barely anyone else.