Cadillac F1 chief denies that they signed Sergio Perez for the wrong reasons ahead of 2026 debut

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Sergio Perez will return to Formula 1 in 2026 with Cadillac, having spent this year out of motorsport entirely.

The Mexican was sacked by Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season, having endured a dismal year. While teammate Max Verstappen won the title, Perez finished down in eighth, having failed to finish in the top five after the Miami GP.

Since he left Red Bull, the 35-year-old has been looking to find his way back onto the F1 grid. He will do just that in 2026, having signed a multi-year deal with newcomers Cadillac alongside Valtteri Bottas.

Many fans are excited about his return to the sport. Perez’s name was chanted during the Mexican Grand Prix in anticipation of his comeback to the F1 paddock.

But given his poor form towards the end of his Red Bull tenure, some may question the reasons behind Cadillac’s signing. Perez’s main backers deny he was signed because of sponsors, with the Mexican bringing significant funds to the table throughout his career.

Cadillac boss Graeme Lowdon denies claims that Sergio Perez was signed because of his popularity

Speaking to ESPN Deportes, Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon further denied claims that Perez was signed because of his popularity. It would be entirely the wrong reason for his signing – his experience in F1 is far more valuable to a new project.

“Well, really, we selected Checo on his merits. That’s the main thing. He’s a very fast Formula 1 driver, and he’s helping us build the team,” said Lowdon.

“The fact that he’s very popular and liked by so many people is an advantage, and it’s fantastic for us because it means we can bring back to the grid a driver who has the support of all these fans, which is great.

“But it’s very clear that we chose him for his ability to drive a Formula 1 car, and it’s fantastic that he attracts the fans, and we want to do something special for them.”

“A new team in Formula 1 isn’t something that happens very often. It’s very rare. And we want all of Checo’s fans to join us on our journey, now that we’re starting our first seasons in Formula 1.

“And we want to share the whole experience with them. But, without a doubt, we’ve chosen him because he’s fast.”

READ MORE: Cadillac driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

Graeme Lowdon outlines what he wants to see from Sergio Perez on his F1 return

The Mexican is already hard at work behind the scenes at Cadillac. Perez has been providing ‘invaluable’ work on the simulator as he prepares for his F1 return.

He will soon get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car in a TPC test to get him back up to speed. The Maranello outfit will supply Cadillac’s engines until their in-house power unit is ready at the end of the decade.

Expectations will be on Perez and Bottas to deliver strong performances and points finishes for the team. Lowdon hopes the Mexican can use his experience in F1 to help develop Cadillac.

“The Checo I want to see is, we know he’s fast, but we also know he has much more to offer a team like ours than just speed, thanks to his experience with many teams, including many top-tier teams. We want to leverage his experience to help build the team,” he added.