Perez Starts Preparation With Cadillac For New F1 Return

Mexican Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez has officially begun the next chapter of his career as he prepares to race for Cadillac in its debut Formula 1 season in 2026. After a challenging end to his four-year journey with Red Bull, Perez stepped away from racing at the end of 2024 despite having two years remaining on his contract. This decision allowed him to take his first major break in almost two decades, giving him time with his family and space to think about his goals. After this reflection, he chose to return to the sport with Cadillac, a new team entering the grid for the first time.

Because Cadillac is a new Formula 1 outfit, they do not have a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. To solve this issue, they partnered with Ferrari, allowing Perez to drive a two-year-old Ferrari car to regain his speed and feel for F1 machines. This arrangement helps both sides. Ferrari’s experienced TPC crew runs the car, while Cadillac engineers observe and learn on-site. This teamwork also helps Cadillac improve simulations and virtual race preparation by applying real-world data from Perez’s runs.

Perez completed his seat fitting at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello last week. This week, he began a two-day test at the Imola circuit, running a Ferrari race car in a full black livery. Perez wore a matching black race suit and helmet. The purpose of the test is simple but important: to help him refresh his understanding of F1 machinery, reconnect with race procedures, and evaluate his physical readiness ahead of the January pre-season testing in Cadillac’s first F1 car.

Perez expressed his excitement before stepping into the car again, stating that the timing of this test is perfect because it gives him clear guidance for winter training. He wants to understand how much fitness he may have lost during his break and identify areas that need improvement. Returning to racing weight and physical condition, he hopes these two days provide a complete picture of what he needs to strengthen before the new season starts.

Aside from pure driving practice, this test marks the beginning of Perez’s hands-on work with Cadillac. He emphasized that this period allows him to build strong communication with engineers and mechanics. To perform well, the driver and team must “speak the same language,” and early preparation helps create this understanding. Since signing his contract during the summer break, Perez has already visited Cadillac facilities in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He has also completed multiple simulator sessions to understand the new car concepts and the 2026 regulations.

Perez recently visited Cadillac’s factory in Silverstone, where he examined their first Formula 1 monocoque designed under the major 2026 rule changes. These changes include updates to aerodynamics, power unit structure, and overall car design. Cadillac sees Perez’s experience as extremely valuable, as he has raced for teams like Sauber, McLaren, Force India, and Red Bull over a long career. His insights will help the team fine-tune development.

After the Imola test, Perez will resume simulator sessions, attend more engineering meetings, and focus heavily on winter physical training. His target is to enter January testing fully ready, both mentally and physically. In the 2026 season, Perez will race alongside Valtteri Bottas, another highly experienced driver who has been a reserve at Mercedes. Together, they bring over 527 Grand Prix starts to Cadillac’s new project. Bottas will join on-track activities only after his Mercedes contract ends.

Sergio Perez’s move to Cadillac represents a fresh beginning. For the Mexican driver, it is a chance to reset his career and contribute to building a completely new Formula 1 team from the ground up. For Cadillac, his experience will be essential as they prepare for their first race in 2026. The early testing sessions, simulator work, and team integration show how serious Cadillac is about entering F1 competitively. As the countdown to 2026 continues, both Perez and the team are focused on learning, improving, and building a strong foundation for the future.