F1 | Cadillac criticized for Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas line-up: “What were they thinking?!”. Cadillac confirms Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as its Formula 1 drivers for 2026–2027.

Cadillac’s F1 debut with Bottas and Perez sparks debate

Not everyone is convinced by Cadillac’s driver pairing for its debut in Formula 1. Respected journalist Peter Windsor has openly criticized the team’s decision, describing the choice of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as “boring” and “slow”. According to Windsor, experience alone will not deliver the results Cadillac is hoping for. The American squad, however, believes that the Mexican and the Finnish driver can provide the stability and technical feedback needed to lay the foundations for car development. The idea of including a rookie from the United States has therefore been put aside.

Cadillac confirms Perez and Bottas after months of speculation

After months of rumors, speculation, and whispers in the paddock, the mystery is over: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will race for Cadillac in the 2026 and 2027 Formula 1 seasons. This decision rules out other candidates, such as American drivers Colton Herta and Jak Crawford, while also closing the door on options like Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu. Daniel Ricciardo, meanwhile, declined the possibility himself, and the younger prospects from Formula 2 and Formula 3 were also overlooked.

Cadillac opts for experience over youth

The American manufacturer has chosen experience as its guiding principle. Between Perez and Bottas, they bring more than 500 combined Grand Prix starts, a factor that Cadillac considers crucial in navigating the early years of its F1 journey and preparing for the future involvement of General Motors. The approach, however, contrasts with the path taken by Audi. The German brand, which is preparing to take over Sauber, has chosen to mix proven talent in Nico Hülkenberg with young promise in Gabriel Bortoleto, signaling a more balanced strategy between experience and youth.

Peter Windsor’s harsh verdict: “Boring and slow”

Speaking to GPBlog, Peter Windsor did not hold back in his criticism of Cadillac’s choice. “It is a really boring and somewhat disappointing decision. What were they thinking? That they would gain credibility with two drivers who have only won a handful of races? Or do they believe they need that experience to optimize the technical side? It is absurd.”

Windsor added: “How many times have we seen world champions join other teams simply because they had experience and were supposed to lift the project? Alain Prost, for example, when he created his own team. And more recently Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello, when they moved from Ferrari to Williams – and absolutely nothing changed. Drivers are just drivers.”

He continued: “If we look at reality, they are signing two drivers who, at the end of their careers, struggled both at Red Bull and Mercedes. What do they expect to achieve with that car? If the car turns out to be good, they will not really know, because it will be limited by those drivers. They will want a machine that does exactly what they ask for, but that is not the same as what actually makes a car fast. Neither of them is at the peak of their career anymore.”