Sergio Perez has now fallen behind ‘brilliant’ driver in race to sign for Cadillac F1 in 2026

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The Formula 1 driver market hasn’t sprung into action yet, with the vast majority of racers already under contract for next season.

However, the Cadillac F1 team offer two drivers the chance to break onto the Formula 1 grid.

For the first time in more than a decade, there will be 22 cars in the paddock, and new team principal Graeme Lowdon has a massive decision on his hands.

Formula 1’s new regulations should help level the playing field, but anyone who expects Cadillac to be immediately fighting for points or even podiums and wins next season.

However, they will know that they need the strongest drivers possible, and that’s why Sergio Perez has emerged as one of the favourites to join Cadillac.

Sergio Perez left Red Bull at the end of last season after a difficult final campaign with the team, but the struggles of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda this year have put his performances in a different light.

Cadillac haven’t made up their mind yet, though, and it now appears as though another driver has leapfrogged Perez in their reckoning.

Valtteri Bottas is another driver who lost his seat on the grid at the end of the 2024 campaign, with Sauber deciding to sign Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.

Bottas has emerged as a candidate to race for Cadillac next season, and the Finnish racer, who has 67 F1 podiums to his name, has now moved ahead of Perez in the American outfit’s thinking.

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

Valtteri Bottas has moved ‘slightly ahead’ of Sergio Perez in race for 2026 Cadillac F1 seat

A report from Motorsport has shared more details about the drivers hoping to catch Cadillac’s attention in the coming weeks and months.

It’s believed that senior Cadillac personnel will be at the British Grand Prix to hold talks with various parties.

This could lead to the team announcing their first new driver imminently, but they’ve got a lot of candidates to choose from.

F1 Oversteer understands Frederik Vesti is of interest to Cadillac, meaning they could potentially line up with an all-Mercedes-backed partnership.

The report from Motorsport says Bottas has ‘immediately climbed the ranks’ at Cadillac when determining who they should hire for 2026.

The belief is that if Cadillac only want one experienced driver next season, Bottas has moved ‘slightly ahead’ of Perez in their thinking.

Bottas joked about Cadillac having two available seats in a viral social media post this week, and while he doesn’t have the same sponsorship backing as Perez, he does have a captive fan base that would be delighted to see him back on the grid.

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

Comparing Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 careers amid Cadillac interest

Bottas has earned plenty of plaudits throughout his F1 career, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff previously describing him as ‘brilliant’, via Formula 1’s official website.

Both drivers spent more than a decade on the grid, with Perez making his debut two years earlier than the Finn.

However, they’re the same age, meaning Cadillac could rely on either of them for an equal amount of time while they establish themselves in the paddock.

The Finn has more victories and podiums under his belt, however, this is due to spending far longer at a top team than Perez, who had to settle for four years at Red Bull playing second fiddle to Max Verstappen.

Bottas has previously been praised for his feedback, which will be crucial to helping a new team in the paddock.

In contrast, Red Bull questioned Perez’s comments before apologising to him when realising that he wasn’t exaggerating the issues he was facing.

Cadillac will see that Bottas’ number suggests he was a better number two driver than Perez over the course of his career.

However, that’s not what the American team need, and they now need to decide which of these two stars should be their number one driver.