F1 fans have come up with a new Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas nickname after Cadillac unveiling

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Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will return to the Formula 1 grid in 2026 after signing multi-year contracts with Cadillac.

The duo dropped off the grid at the end of 2024 after leaving Red Bull and Sauber respectively. Perez opted to take a year away from motorsport in 2025, while Bottas has acted as Mercedes’ reserve driver.

Cadillac had been linked with several drivers throughout the year as they explored the F1 driver market for candidates for their debut season in 2026. In the end, they have gone for experience as Perez and Bottas have signed deals until at least 2027.

Perez thinks he will ‘work well’ with Bottas as the pair are ‘very hungry’ to return to the grid and make an impact. They are exactly what the team need as they join F1 in time for the new technical regulations, which are set to shake up the pecking order.

David Coulthard thinks Cadillac have the ‘perfect’ line-up for 2026, and many F1 fans hold the same opinion. They have even come up with a nickname for the American outfit’s driver pairing.

F1 fans come up with the nickname ‘Checottas’ for Cadillac duo Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas

Cadillac unveiled Perez and Bottas on Tuesday, with the duo becoming F1’s oldest driver line-up come 2026. They watched the team’s announcement video in real time, as shown in a behind-the-scenes video from F1’s official Instagram account ahead of their media interviews.

Fans flooded the comments section to express their excitement about Cadillac’s drivers. Many have already coined a nickname for the pair, with one fan writing: “CHECOTTAS button.”

A combination of Perez’s nickname ‘Checo’ and Bottas’ surname, the comment received thousands of likes as fans approved of the name. One replied: “Hahaha this is great Checottas,” while another said: “New nickname unlocked.”

One user saw this as a key moment for the team as they said: “[It] is already christened now it is CHECOTTAS this is a historic moment.”

‘”Checottas’ is coming,” said one fan, while another echoed: “Checottas is real.”

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

Will Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas perform at Cadillac?

Christian Danner believes Perez and Bottas guarantee results for Cadillac with their experience and winning mentality. Of course, the team will not be expected to be frontrunners from the off – no one knows that more than the team themselves.

Perez’s ‘main mission’ at Cadillac is in development, rather than winning races. He and Bottas will be key in helping the team evolve their car and adapt to the new regulations.

But the pair certainly see the American outfit’s potential. Perez is excited to sign for Cadillac after seeing their ‘whole project’ and what they have planned at Silverstone.

Bottas sees the same ‘hunger’ at Cadillac as Mercedes, which helped the Silver Arrows become multiple world champions. He played a key role in that success, and could do the same with his new team.