Verstappen Highlights Sergio Perez's Crucial Value to Cadillac F1 Project

Max Verstappen has confirmed he was among the first to congratulate Sergio Perez on his return to Formula 1 with Cadillac for the 2026 season, also highlighting the significant value Perez brings to the new team.

Why it matters:

Perez's return to the F1 grid after a year's hiatus in 2025 is a major storyline. Verstappen's insights offer a rare look into a former teammate's perspective on Perez's character and his crucial role in establishing a new F1 outfit like Cadillac.

The details:

• Verstappen confirmed sending a message to Perez immediately upon hearing the news. "I'm of course very happy for him, that he got a seat. He's a great guy and we've always got along very well. So, I'm happy to see him back on the grid," Verstappen stated.
• Regarding Perez's future performance, Verstappen acknowledged it would heavily depend on the car. "How he's going to perform I think will also depend on how good the car is going to be, right? So, it's a bit difficult to say at the moment but it's a new opportunity and I'm sure he's very excited for it."
• Verstappen also emphasized that one half-season at Red Bull doesn't define Perez's capabilities, seeing his move to Cadillac as a fresh start with completely new cars.

Perez's added value to Cadillac:

Verstappen delved into how Perez will be a vital asset for Cadillac, stressing his diverse experience:

• Extensive Team Knowledge: "He has driven for a lot of different teams, so he knows a lot of things about how teams work. Every single team, of course, works a little bit in a different way." This understanding helps identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Adaptability to Regulations: "Also, the behavior of cars, he's been in a lot of different regulations, a lot of different rule sets where other things were allowed, some were not allowed, but banned, stuff like that."
• Comprehensive Car Understanding: "To have that general understanding of how a great car is, how a car is that's not fantastic, I think, is very valuable for them to start because he has worked with many big teams."

What's next:

Perez's comprehensive experience across various teams and regulatory eras is expected to be key in helping Cadillac make rapid progress in its F1 debut. While jumping into F1 and being competitive immediately is challenging, Perez's insights could significantly accelerate their development.