Sergio Perez just made a ‘fantastic’ Lewis Hamilton prediction as he prepares for his Cadillac F1 comeback

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Formula 1 is preparing to welcome Cadillac onto the grid next season, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas confirmed as their first two drivers.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon has opted for experience for Cadillac’s first line-up in 2026.

Unless something drastic happens in the driver market before the start of next year, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be the third-most experienced pairing on the grid behind Aston Martin and Ferrari.

There are going to be plenty of hurdles for Cadillac to overcome before next year’s Australian Grand Prix, which is why hiring two experienced drivers makes so much sense.

Bottas has already compared Cadillac to Mercedes, but the aim for the General Motors-backed team in 2026 is simply to avoid being cut adrift at the back of the grid.

Perez and Bottas didn’t have the easiest end to their time at Red Bull and Sauber, respectively, something that Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton can sympathise with.

The ground effect era of Formula 1 has caught out several more experienced drivers, although Hamilton’s cause wasn’t helped by Mercedes’ lack of understanding of the ruleset.

Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo have suffered similar issues, but going into the 2026 regulations, Perez has made a prediction about the seven-time world champion that Ferrari will love.

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

Sergio Perez predicts Lewis Hamilton to ‘figure it out’ at Ferrari next season

Perez was speaking on The F1 Show after Cadillac’s announcement, and when asked about Pat Symonds’ claims that Hamilton should have better luck in 2026, he responded: “I think this era of cars that we are currently in with the ground effect cars.

“It’s been tricky, but obviously, I think with Lewis, you’ve seen it, he’s done a tremendous job at Mercedes when they didn’t have that competitive car.

“I think for him, at the end of an era, to be changing teams and getting to adapt has been tricky, but obviously he’s a fantastic driver, and for sure he’ll figure it out.

“I think we’ve seen it with many different drivers that it’s all about adapting a car into a driving style, that sometimes it just takes a little bit longer than others.

“I’ve done well in previous eras, so yeah, I do expect that the new regulations will suit my style.”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Ferrari’s 2026 power unit is the biggest question mark for Lewis Hamilton’s F1 future

The changing aerodynamic rules for next year’s Formula 1 cars could go one of two ways for Hamilton.

Before the ground effect era, the floors of each F1 car were flat, and that seemed to help Hamilton’s late braking style.

Ferrari’s brake manufacturer have had complaints from Hamilton, but next year’s ruleset could ease some of his current concerns.

However, it’s expected that the team with the best power unit could dominate in 2026, and most of the rumours in the paddock suggest Mercedes have the upper hand.

Talk in the paddock suggests Ferrari’s engine might not be at the same level as Mercedes’, which would make Hamilton’s decision to switch teams look ill-advised.

Fred Vasseur will be pleased that Perez has faith Hamilton can get back to his best, having driven against him for over a decade.

Something very surprising will have to have happened for the two drivers to be going head-to-head on track next year.