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The conclusion of the 2025 Formula 1 season means that the next time cars are out on track, there will be 22 to follow, instead of just 20.
For the first time since Haas’ introduction in 2016, there will be a new team in the paddock as Cadillac make their Formula 1 debut.
Cadillac will be powered by Ferrari in 2026 as General Motors get up to speed building their own power unit.
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Team principal Graeme Lowdon has been busy building up a team capable of competing with the 10 established outfits already in the sport.
One of the main questions Lowdon faced was which drivers he would hire for their debut campaign.
In the end, he settled on Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, opting for experience over any of the exciting rookies rising through the ranks right now.
Bernie Collins has been speaking about Cadillac’s chances and uncovered one issue she believes could arise when Perez and Bottas go head-to-head next year.
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Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas’ personalities might clash at Cadillac in 2026, says Bernie Collins
Collins was asked about the Cadillac line-up going into 2026 on the Track Limits Podcast.
She said: “I think from my side you would need to have one experienced driver, I think, because they’re going to start developing their car in the simulator.
“That’s what hopefully is happening now for them, they’re developing simulator runs in order to get feedback.
“I think you need an experienced driver who’s run the Pirelli tyres recently.
“I think of both of those drivers [Perez and Bottas], they’ve got real strength.
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“I can’t imagine them as a pairing just because of their personalities, but I think to have someone like one of those two drivers, someone with a lot of experience recently, who knows the current power units, knows the current tyres.
“I think that would be really powerful for that team to go forward and bring on a rookie, sure, because your first few years are going to be development, probably.
“I think you need, initially, in order to get the car to that point, it needs some experience and someone who’s not going to be frustrated if it breaks down or has reliability issues.”
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Sergio Perez already has an advantage over Valtteri Bottas going into the 2026 F1 season
Perez and Bottas have more than 500 Grand Prix starts between them, and without poaching a driver from another team were virtually the most experienced duo they could have signed.
Lowdon had doubts about signing Daniel Ricciardo, while other drivers like Mick Schumacher, Jak Crawford and Colten Herta couldn’t convince the American outfit to give them a chance.
Perez and Bottas are on two-year contracts that should give them plenty of stability during the new regulations set in Formula 1.
The Mexican driver has already been in the simulator and getting to know his new team, and while Mercedes haven’t blocked Bottas from doing any work with Cadillac, his duties were limited while the 2025 campaign was ongoing.
That will give the six-time race winner a small advantage, while Perez also took part in a private Ferrari test at Imola with Cadillac as they started to get to grips with the procedures involved in a race weekend.
Bottas has one of the most recognisable faces – and haircuts – in the sport and has been allowed to be far more flamboyant since leaving Mercedes for the first time.
It will be interesting to see how he gets along with Perez, who always comes across as more reflective, and Collins will have observed them both closely in the paddock over the years, which might have led her to suggest their personalities might not work together.
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