Sergio Perez is touted to be targeting discussions with Cadillac over a potential return to Formula 1 with the prospective team in 2026, according to a recent report.
Perez’s ever-present status on the F1 grid since 2011 will come to an end once the upcoming campaign commences next month having lost his race drive at Red Bull.
Having amassed 85 points in the opening five races alone, Perez’s results nosedived as Red Bull’s competitiveness waned as he added 67 points in the remaining 19 rounds.
With his low return costing the team the Constructors’ Championship despite Max Verstappen winning the Drivers’ title, Red Bull opted to drop Perez once 2024 ended.
The six-time F1 race winner, who had been adamant up until the last round that he would retain his place, admitted he wished to take his time until deciding his next move.
Speaking once his Red Bull exit was publicised, Perez said: “Everything happened very quickly at the end of last season. I didn’t expect to leave the team.
“In the next six months, I will make a decision on what I want for the next step in my career.”
But according to Spanish publication Marca, Perez’s “big goal” is to get back in F1 and the Cadillac team represents a “good option” for him to accomplish that ambition.
The report aligns with comments that Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko made upon Perez’s exit being communicated as he suggested that openings could still arise.
“I think he still hopes for Formula 1, although of course all the seats for next year [2025] have been given away,” the Austrian said via sport.de.
“But if he sits on the sidelines for one year, then of course, as an experienced driver, there can always be new opportunities for him.”
Cadillac aiming to hire established F1 name
One team that is certain to be interested is Cadillac, the General-Motors-owned team which has an agreement in principle to enter F1 as the 11th team on the grid next season.
Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 champion who is an advisor to the venture, has divulged that Cadillac’s intention is to partner an American driver with an established name.
When asked about potential interest in IndyCar star Colton Herta, Andretti told NBC: “You mentioning candidates, he’s definitely one that’s considered.
“From our standpoint, I think the play at the beginning would be to have one experienced driver -nationality doesn’t matter – and then a young American talent.
“These are the objectives at the moment.”
Perez’s backing could give him an edge
Valtteri Bottas, available having been overlooked to retain his seat at Sauber, is interested in the gig and disclosed late last year that tentative discussions had begun.
However, Perez’s substantial backing could give him an edge over the Finn as Marca states that Carlos Slim and the sponsors he had at Red Bull will go wherever he ends up.
The outlet highlighted that Perez counts among a “few drivers who can say that he contributes to filling four circuits, such as Mexico, Austin, Miami and Las Vegas.”
Horner can envisage Perez at Cadillac
Red Bull boss Christian Horner can envisage Perez being picked to lead the Cadillac team as he expressed that he “wouldn’t be surprised” should his ex-driver end up there.
“I wouldn’t at all be surprised if they went for the experience of someone like Sergio if he wants to decide to continue his career in F1,” Horner told talkSPORT
Perez would bring ‘value’ to Cadillac
Meanwhile, ex-Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has also urged Cadillac to sign Perez, whom he believes would return to his best without the pressure at Red Bull.
“If you’re Cadillac, you need somebody experienced,” Steiner said to GPblog. “Checo has been in quite a few teams for a long time. He knows his way around. He could be a big help.”
“Maybe put him (Perez) on a one-year contract, it’s a lot better than having old rookies in there. That’s an opportunity for Checo.
“And by then, a year of digesting the beating from Max, he recovers from the Dutch beating, so it could bring him to a better place again. I would say he could have value for Cadillac.”
He added: “I don’t want to be cynical here. He was up at the front of the grid last year.
“We need to be realistic. Fighting for one point because the car cannot be better is one thing but fighting for one point when your team-mate with the same car is winning races puts you in a different headspace, it’s a different pressure.
“Checo was very good when he was at Racing Point. He always overdelivered as an underdog. He couldn’t keep up with the pressure of the top team.
“So maybe it’s his comfort zone where he has not got that pressure to need to show that he’s good by winning, maybe that maybe puts him in a better place.”
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