Cadillac risk making one big mistake signing Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as their 2026 F1 driver line-up

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Cadillac look to have finally figured out who they want at the wheel of their first Formula 1 cars, with reports emerging that Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be announced before the conclusion of the summer break.

Mick Schumacher has been tipped to fill the reserve role for F1’s newest team. The German driver left the grid after two seasons with Haas at the end of 2022, following a stint which saw him score two points finishes across 44 races with the team.

F1 fans want to see Bottas and Perez back on the grid with Cadillac, having made their feelings clear that it makes sense for the new team to bring on a couple of drivers who have some experience already under their belt.

Juan Pablo Montoya believes Cadillac should start looking at replacements for Bottas immediately, with the former F1 driver under the impression that the Finnish driver isn’t someone they should build the team around with an eye on the future.

READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers

Cadillac could suffer from not employing a young driver in its maiden F1 season

With the 2026 season also bringing a complete overhaul of the specifications of Formula 1 cars, Cadillac may be missing a trick by not opting to go with a young driver in their maiden season within the sport.

The first season of the regulations will mainly be a learning experience for all of the teams on the grid. Everyone will be interested to see which team has started off on the right foot and put a lot of effort into developing their own philosophies to be able to challenge for the championships on offer.

As such, this makes it the perfect opportunity for Cadillac to slot in an inexperienced driver in the seat of one of their cars to gain valuable experience in racing conditions, and set their sights on the 2027 season as an opening to come out swinging.

As theorised before by Montoya, if Cadillac do sign Bottas for just a single year, it could be seen as a wasted season by the team on a driver who isn’t committed to the long-term project that Cadillac are hoping to put forward.

The counterargument that Cadillac are pushing is that both Perez and Bottas bring with them years of experience in the sport. The input that they can have on the car will be paramount to Cadillac building a competitive car from their time driving championship-winning machinery.

READ MORE: Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

Which young drivers could Cadillac have signed instead of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas?

A number of young talents were touted with a potential seat at the American constructor next season, with Jak Crawford being among the front-runners due to the fact that he races under an American license.

Cadillac were keen on having an American driver at the wheel of their first F1 car to represent the nation after Logan Sargeant’s departure from the grid last season. Sargeant was the first American to have seat in F1 since Alexander Rossi’s five-race stint with Marussia in 2015.

McLaren junior Alex Dunne was also tipped to drive for Cadillac next year. The young Irishman impressed in his FP1 debut with the papaya team at the British Grand Prix.

Another name that was linked with a seat is the current Formula 2 championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli. Cadillac expressed its interest in Fornaroli as an alternative to Sergio Perez if they were unable to secure the Mexican driver’s signature for 2026.