Speculation regarding Sergio Pérez`s potential signing with the new Cadillac team, set to join Formula 1 in 2026, intensified ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend. However, the reality is that Pérez has not yet committed to any team and was not scheduled to be unveiled as a Cadillac driver in Miami during that weekend.
Pérez departed Red Bull at the conclusion of the 2024 season, with Liam Lawson announced as his successor.
Sources indicated to ESPN that Pérez had not been in Miami recently, did not plan to attend the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, and would not be present at Cadillac`s team launch event held on the evening of Saturday, May 3rd, in the city.
According to these sources, the speculation originated from social media posts based on the location tracking of the private jet typically used by Pérez, which is leased out when not in his personal use.
Cadillac is indeed considered a viable option for the Mexican racer, whose Formula 1 career spanned from 2011 to 2024 with stints at Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point, and his final four seasons with Red Bull.
Cadillac`s interest in Pérez as a prospective driver for 2026 was previously confirmed to ESPN by team advisor Mario Andretti during a podcast interview a few weeks prior.
Nevertheless, Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon recently stated that he has a shortlist of seven or eight potential drivers for their 2026 lineup.
Pérez`s stated plan at this time is to take a six-month period before finalizing his decision regarding his future in motorsport.
During this break, the Mexican driver has been enjoying leisure time with his family, attending sports matches and concerts, vacationing with his children, visiting beaches in Bermuda and Mexico`s Nayarit region. In essence, he`s been experiencing a quality of life he hadn`t known since moving to Europe at age 14 to chase his F1 ambition.
Pérez is also closely monitoring potential changes on the 2026 F1 grid. The market could be significantly impacted if a prominent driver like Max Verstappen, currently contracted to Red Bull until 2028, were to consider leaving.
A potential departure by the four-time world champion could trigger a series of driver movements, potentially opening up opportunities beyond the two available seats at Cadillac. Aston Martin has been mentioned as a possible destination for Verstappen, and even Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has expressed concerns about Verstappen leaving if the 2026 car isn`t sufficiently competitive against rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
Pérez remains a potential candidate, with Cadillac presenting a clear opportunity. However, his management team has also explored other possibilities with different teams, although specific details about which teams or whether Julian Jakobi is still handling this potential second phase of Pérez`s F1 career remain undisclosed.
Additionally, a Hungarian website, Formula1.Hu, recently published an interview with Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley, who served as Red Bull`s sporting director until 2024.
In the interview, Wheatley praised Pérez, highlighting his skills as a driver, his insightful feedback to engineers, and his capacity to recover from setbacks.
While this interview doesn`t necessarily indicate Sauber`s interest in Pérez (as they have drivers under contract), it helps keep the Mexican driver`s name in the conversation. Similarly, his exclusive interview with F1.com was widely seen as a declaration of his availability and desire to return to the sport.
Before Red Bull`s decision to terminate his contract and replace him for 2025 became known, Pérez had publicly stated that he would only return to F1 if he could secure a drive capable of competing for points.
As a new entrant, Cadillac will face a period of adaptation and development. Expectations for their performance in the 2026 season should be set with this in mind.
Dominic Ashworth