A tale of big dreams, bigger egos, and Cadillac calling time on the comeback kid – In the high-stakes theatre of Formula One’s Silly Season, it was only a matter of time before Sergio Pérez, the paddock’s perennial comeback story, found himself linked to yet another seat he would never sit in. This time, the rumour carousel parked briefly outside the gates of Cadillac Racing, Formula One’s newest constructor due to join the grid in 2026 with all the flair of American ambition and General Motors money.
With the team’s driver lineup still unconfirmed and anticipation building over just who will steer this shiny new ship, two familiar names bobbed to the surface like forgotten corks: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. But while Bottas has apparently impressed with his calm demeanour and budget-friendly requirements, Pérez reportedly managed to price himself out of contention before the negotiations even hit second gear.
Pérez’s Cadillac dream stalls before it starts
After Red Bull gave Pérez the boot at the end of 2024 despite a freshly inked contract extension, the Mexican’s prospects in F1 dimmed considerably. Replaced by Liam Lawson, who was then ousted himself for the ever-loyal Yuki Tsunoda, Pérez was left with little more than his sponsor’s wallet and a wish to remain in the sport.
But according to Ziggo Sport’s ever-quotable Jack Plooij on the Race Café programme, Cadillac were having none of it. Not because Pérez lacked talent, nor even because of his age, but because of what Plooij called “a deal that was far too high.”
“Sergio wasted his money,” Plooij claimed with the kind of bluntness only a Dutchman on TV can deliver. “He bet on himself too hard, and Cadillac walked away. Valtteri Bottas will be the number one driver at Cadillac. Pérez? No.”
The implication? Pérez might still have backing from his longtime financial lifeline Carlos Slim, but even Slim’s billions could not convince Cadillac to entertain what insiders have described as a “bizarre” set of financial and contractual demands. Cadillac might be new, but they are not naive.
From Red Bull’s reject to Cadillac’s regret
Let us rewind briefly to the end of 2024. Pérez’s final season at Red Bull had started with optimism but ended in a minor key. The RB20 had fallen from its pedestal, McLaren had snatched the Constructors’ crown, and Verstappen looked increasingly frustrated with everything from the chassis to the corporate drama. In the middle of it all, Pérez was struggling to get out of Q2.
By the time the axe fell, the writing had been on the wall for months. Pérez’s once-vaunted reputation as a tire whisperer and race-day tactician was replaced by headlines about missed podiums, internal politics, and whispers of being a liability. His eighth-place finish in the standings did little to soften the blow, and Red Bull’s decision to cut ties even after renewing his contract left a sour taste in the mouth. That bitterness, it seems, followed him into his conversations with Cadillac.
Wheatley reveals why he left Red Bull
Cadillac leans toward Bottas, eyes Drugovich as support
While Pérez may have brought a bit of sponsor capital, Cadillac appears to be building its team with long-term sensibility in mind. And that sensibility seems to favour Bottas. The Finnish stalwart, known for his no-nonsense approach, reliable development feedback, and experience with multiple constructors, is reportedly Cadillac’s top target to lead their maiden F1 campaign.
Bottas, currently keeping Mercedes’ simulator team warm, has been laying the groundwork for one last solid stint in the sport. Cadillac provides just the kind of blank canvas a driver like Bottas could thrive on: low expectations initially, but huge growth potential.
And as for the second seat? Step forward Felipe Drugovich, the forgotten champion of Formula 2 and part-time test driver for Aston Martin. According to Plooij, the Brazilian is Cadillac’s clear favourite to partner Bottas.
“I think Felipe Drugovich will get a chance there,” he announced with the confidence of a man who has clearly seen the WhatsApp messages. “He already has ties to Cadillac, having driven for them at Le Mans and Daytona.”
Drugovich’s stint at Cadillac Whelen Racing and his impressive F2 championship in 2022 give him a racing pedigree that is both current and hungry. The only thing missing from his CV is a proper shot at F1, something Cadillac appears ready to provide.
The slim chance for Slim’s man
Of course, as in all things Formula One, the money never truly disappears. Carlos Slim, the billionaire telecoms magnate and Pérez’s unwavering financial backer, is reportedly still pushing hard for his man to remain on the grid. Slim’s influence cannot be understated, and his pockets are deep enough to buy Pérez a ride somewhere, even if it is not with Cadillac.
But Formula One is no longer a place where money alone guarantees a seat. Just ask Nicholas Latifi. Or Nikita Mazepin. The days of buying your way into the midfield may be numbered, particularly as the sport eyes a cost-cap era, sustainable tech, and more competitive parity.
For Cadillac, the message is clear. They are not just here to fill up the back of the grid. They want competence, chemistry, and character. And if your name is Sergio Pérez, all the pesos in the world may not be enough if you show up demanding a royal welcome.
Where next for Checo?
With Cadillac out of the picture, Pérez’s remaining options are rapidly dwindling. Audi already has one driver too many, Alpine is a revolving door of chaos, and Haas looks more like a penal colony than a serious team. Even the long shot of a Honda-backed move to Aston Martin seems to have evaporated now that Tsunoda is headed back to Red Bull’s second team and both Aston cockpits are locked up.
Could Pérez land a reserve role? Possibly. Could he follow the well-trodden path to IndyCar or the World Endurance Championship? Certainly. But the F1 paddock is no longer waiting for his calls. The sport is moving on. Bottas is in, Drugovich is coming, and Cadillac has officially shut the door on the Checo Revival Tour.
Has Cadillac made the right call in snubbing Pérez? Did Checo overplay his hand one time too many? Or is there still a place on the F1 grid for a driver with his level of experience and backing?
Let us know in the comments below. Is this the end of the road for Sergio Pérez, or just a pit stop before one final lap?
This verdict brought to you by The Judge.
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Plooji’s words don’t have any more relevance than any other third-party journos, so claiming that Perez officially wouldn’t have any chance on a Cadillac drive based on his personal view is pointless, not to mention no existing team has been interested in offering Drugovich a full-time drive, so basically zero chance Cadillac would be any different in this regard.
Besides, a site called F1 Oversteer reported, following the British GP weekend, that many people in the paddock believe Zhou’s hiring is almost certain, presumably based on sources close to either Zhou or Cadillac, if not both.
As for individual journos, Joe Saward is one who’s usually well-informed about paddock matters & therefore, he gets driver moves right most of the time, & he hasn’t mentioned anything about Drugovich regarding Cadillac nor even Mick, for that matter, in any of his Green Notebook posts this year.
Btw, Tsunoda won’t race in the B-team again after how long was there before his promotion, simply because that wouldn’t have any benefits for his career anymore all things considered, especially the aspect of not getting another chance in the main team in such situation, so continuing at Red Bull Racing is the only way he’d continue in the Red Bull organization beyond the Honda PU supply’s end, even though his Honda-affiliation is only in sponsorship form these days, meaning all his career choices are fully up to him.
Lindblad will almost certainly start racing in F1 from next season with his teammate at VCARB being either Lawson or Hadjar.