Cadillac F1 today have announced what most paddock folk expected from them, that experienced F1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will become their full time drivers in 2026. The pair have 106 podiums between them and sixteen Grand Prix victories together with 27 years of racing in Formula One.
The announcement also confirmed that the team wold not be appointing Christian Horner in any capacity, backing current team boss Graham Lowden who was appointed in December last year. Bottas and Perez were not just Cadillac hopefuls, but reports emerging from the chaotic Alpine in recent weeks state Flavio Briatore was considering one of the pair for 2026.
Valterri Bottas refused to admit the approach although Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed at this year’s British GP that he had spoken to Briatore over the loan of Bottas to replace Franco Colapinto for the remainder of the year. When asked whether he had discussed the matter with Flavio Briatore Toto Wolff replied: “A few times, actually. I saw him today and we talked about Valtteri. It seems that the interest in Valtteri is increasing even more. He deserves that seat. If someone grabs him as a race driver, we’ll let him go. Of course, with a tear in the corner of our eye.”
Cadillac to test 2023 Ferrari
The delay in Cadillac’s appointment may well mean some practice for the Finn for the remainder of the F1 season is now off the cards, although the Alpine difficulties with their second seat are not going away. Reports emerged last week that Cadillac intent to test with the 2023 Ferrari F1 car under the FIA’s TPC provisions. The extent of that intended programme would define whether Valtteri would be able to fill in for Alpine, whilst also preparing for Cadillac’s F1 debut next year.
TPC rules state that current F1 drivers can do a maximum of 500km testing in previous cars, although its unclear whether this restriction applies to Bottas and Perez who are currently without a seat in F1. That said with the big 2026 rule changes regulating for new power units and chassis, the learning from a 2023 F1 car would be extremely limited.
For now Briatore is stuck with Hobson’s choice over the identity of his second driver for the end of the season, with both Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto failing to score a point between them. The Argentinian arrived in F1 to a fanfare of promise as he scored twice for Williams in his first four outings for the team. Yet since taking over from Doohan at Alpine, F1 has become a bruising affair for the rookie, marked by inconsistency and a couple of costly accidents.
Colapinto crashes again
The most recent smash came at the Hungaroring’s high-speed Turn 11 — a corner where incidents are never minor — though thankfully he walked away unhurt. Yet his encounter with the barriers curtailed Alpine’s test the week following the Grand Prix, as the day was lost to repairing the car.
The team have not revealed the crash was anything other than a mistake from the driver which will do little to improve the Argentinians confidence which has plummeted since his return in May. His first outing with Alpine, saw Colapinto crash in his first qualifying session just hours after the instructions from Briatore stated: “Be fast, don’t crash and score points.”
Colapinto joined Alpine last winter, but was not afforded the benefit of a proper pre-season test. The difference between the Williams and Alpine F1 car design philosophies has seen the Argentinian racer struggle to adjust. Alpine’s cars
Colapinto also joined Alpine without the benefit of a proper pre-season. Aside from limited 2023 car testing and his nine-race run with Williams last year, he was thrown straight into race weekends. The Alpine itself is a stark contrast to the Williams, with a stiffer platform and a more difficult balance, leaving him scrambling to adapt in the heat of competition.
No upgrade on Doohan
That’s not an excuse, simply the reality. No driver thrives without time to adjust, yet Colapinto has been judged under pressure from the outset. Too often his qualifying performances have left him starting deep in the pack, unable to match the occasional heroics Pierre Gasly has managed. Internally, some still question the wisdom of replacing Doohan, pointing to Colapinto’s crashes and patchy pace against Alex Albon during his Williams stint.
Still, there have been glimpses of progress. He outqualified and beat Gasly in both Canada and Hungary, and looked set to have the edge in Britain before spinning out of Q1. His strong Hungary performance was undermined by Alpine’s own woes: a deeply uncompetitive weekend compounded by two pitstop issues that cost him around 13 seconds. His result flattered to deceive.
Overall, the results have not been an upgrade on Doohan’s, and the struggles have tested Alpine’s patience. Yet Colapinto’s flashes of speed suggest he is better than his record so far implies. If the momentum from Hungary can spark a genuine turnaround, Alpine may start to view him less as a stopgap and more as a long-term investment. For now, his future may depend as much on patience — and financial backing from Latin America — as it does on outright performance.
Cadillac F1 reacts to Horner joining
When Christian Horner left Red Bull Racing earlier this year, speculation immediately began about where the long-serving team principal might land next. His departure from the reigning champions created a vacuum of intrigue, with various outlets and commentators linking the Briton to different projects in Formula 1. Among the most prominent whispers was the suggestion that Cadillac, one of the incoming manufacturers preparing for its grand F1 entry, could become Horner’s next destination.
Those whispers have now been quashed. Speaking during Cadillac’s official driver announcement on Tuesday, CEO Dan Towriss put the record straight. “I would like to officially dispel this rumour. There have been no discussions with Christian Horner, and none are planned,” Towriss stated. The American outfit confirmed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as its drivers, while Mick Schumacher, once tipped for a seat, will not feature in the team’s 2026 debut lineup.
Cadillac’s Formula 1 project, led by Graeme Lowdon as team principal, is one of the most ambitious new entries in recent memory. The recruitment of Bottas and Perez signals the team’s intent to balance experience with leadership. Lowdon himself described the pair as crucial to laying the foundations of a competitive new entrant, praising both their racing instinct and the know-how required to build an organisation from the ground up….. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
