Cadillac’s arrival in Formula 1 in 2026 not only represents the entry of a new team onto the grid but also the formation of a pairing that draws immediate attention: Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will be tasked with leading the project in its first season.

The choice of two drivers with extensive experience in the category follows a clear logic. Cadillac is seeking stability and technical knowledge in the context of a complete fresh start, with renewed regulations and the need to build a competitive foundation from the very first steps.

In that scenario, one of the central topics is how internal competition will be managed. Pérez and Bottas arrive with established careers, victories, podiums, and years within top-level structures, which makes coexistence inside the same garage a relevant aspect for the team’s development.

Bottas, who returns to a full-time role after being linked to Mercedes as a reserve, pointed out that the priority will not be a personal battle, but joint work. In a new team, building the car and gathering information matter more than any immediate dispute over hierarchy.

Pérez, for his part, also joins at a moment of reset in his career, with the opportunity to lead a different project after his time with top teams. His experience in high-pressure environments stands out as an important asset for a structure aiming to establish itself.

Although they were never direct teammates, both spent years as on-track rivals, with Pérez at Red Bull and Bottas at Mercedes. That shared experience within the same ecosystem may ease adaptation, but it also requires clear management within the team.

The presence of two similar profiles, both veterans with ambitions of their own, presents an additional challenge: defining internal roles without affecting the main objective, which will be to grow Cadillac’s sporting project in its first steps within the championship.

In a debuting team, every work session will carry strategic value. The drivers’ technical input, their ability to communicate sensations, and their development experience will be key tools to speed up processes.

Both Pérez and Bottas expressed enthusiasm about joining a long-term project, understanding that the initial focus will be on building rather than competing for immediate results.

Looking ahead to 2026, Cadillac’s duo will be one of the most closely followed storylines. Not only because of what they may achieve on track, but because of how they manage an internal relationship that could be decisive in the birth of a new team within Formula 1.

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