Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski has refused to confirm Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for the 2027 Formula 1 season, raising fresh questions about the American team’s driver lineup.
Although both veterans are contracted until the end of 2027, the team’s latest comments leave the door open to a potential change, with Esteban Ocon emerging as a possible candidate.
Budkowski refuses to confirm Cadillac’s 2027 lineup
Will Cadillac make a change to its driver lineup for 2027? Budkowski declined to offer a definitive commitment to either Perez or Bottas when questioned about the team’s plans on the sidelines of the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
“This is the last place I would comment on driver contracts,” Budkowski said during the press conference.
He added: “Generally speaking, it’s not something that’s done in the press, but rather something that’s done in official team announcements when the time is right.”
According to Motorsport-Magazin.com, Cadillac has yet to officially confirm its driver lineup for next season, leaving uncertainty over whether the team intends to retain its current pairing.
The comments are particularly significant given the speculation surrounding Ocon, who is preparing to leave Haas at the end of the season and has made clear his determination to remain in Formula 1.
Bottas faces pressure after difficult run of results
Of the two Cadillac drivers, Bottas may have the most immediate reason to be concerned about his position. The Finnish driver has struggled to match Perez in their head-to-head battles this season, while both drivers are still searching for their first World Championship points in an uncompetitive Cadillac.
Bottas sought to put speculation about his future to rest at the end of August, insisting that he remained committed to the project beyond the current season.
“Of course, I’m still ready for next year. But at some point, we’ll talk about what happens after 2027, but it’s not that far along yet,” he said.
His comments indicated that Bottas expected to continue with Cadillac in 2027, but they did not amount to an official confirmation from the team.
The 37-year-old has subsequently endured several difficult weekends. He was notably slower than Perez in Baku and Singapore before a driving error sent him into the gravel during the Malaysian round.
Those results have added to the scrutiny surrounding his performances as Cadillac continues to establish itself in Formula 1.
Perez has received public backing from Towriss
Perez has also been linked with alternative options in recent months, but Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has previously expressed confidence that the Mexican driver will remain with the team.
“I’m confident that Checo will stay with Cadillac,” Towriss said when addressing speculation about Perez’s future.
Towriss had also indicated that Cadillac was satisfied with its experienced driver pairing and that no changes were planned at the time.
However, Budkowski’s latest comments have offered no equivalent guarantee for 2027. While that does not necessarily indicate an impending change, the absence of an official announcement means questions about the lineup are likely to continue.
Could Ocon replace Bottas at Cadillac?
Ocon has repeatedly emerged as a potential option for Cadillac after his impending departure from Haas. The Frenchman has made no secret of his desire to secure another Formula 1 seat, and a move to the American team would offer a possible route to extending his career on the grid.
Cadillac must weigh the benefits of retaining two experienced drivers against the opportunity to bring in a different option as the team develops its car and operations.
Bottas’s recent results could strengthen the case for considering alternatives, although there has been no official indication that Cadillac intends to replace him.
For now, Budkowski’s refusal to confirm the lineup leaves the situation unresolved. Both Bottas and Perez remain under contract through 2027, but until Cadillac makes a formal announcement, speculation over a possible change is unlikely to disappear.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
This whole speculation is simply pointless since they aren’t actually looking to change their driver lineup after only one season.
Bottas himself again has the same stance on the speculation about his Cadillac drive, i.e., that he isn’t worried about the rumors since he knows his situation & all is good on this front.
If bottis had a faster/ quicker car the results eould be different. When he raced for Mercedes he won races with a decent car with speed. The Cadillac is unfortunately too slow or needs more time for better upgrades. But its too late now, season is over nearly.
I’m starting to believe this. Bottas looks way slower then Perez and Herta only needs one super license point
The drumming up and momentum an American driver will create is enormous which in turn leads to sponsorship- of which you never have enough and by looks of it Cadillac really needs it