Nico Hulkenberg believes Sergio Perez's year-long sabbatical from Formula 1 will likely prove beneficial for his return in 2026 with new entrant Cadillac. Drawing from his own experience of a three-year hiatus, Hulkenberg suggests time away can offer valuable perspective and rekindle a driver's drive.
Why it matters: Perez, who spent 14 consecutive seasons in F1 before losing his Red Bull seat at the end of 2024, will rejoin the grid with Cadillac alongside Valtteri Bottas. Hulkenberg’s insight offers a seasoned perspective on how such a break can impact a driver's performance and mindset, especially ahead of a significant regulatory reset.
The big picture: While Hulkenberg's break was longer (three years between 2020 and 2022 compared to Perez's one-year break in 2025), he sees parallels. He described the time away as "probably positive and refreshing" for Perez.
- "I think it was probably positive and refreshing for him to disconnect and to watch it all with some good distance from the comfort of your couch at home. It's quite an interesting experience," Hulkenberg stated at Zandvoort.
- "I'm sure it was good for him and that he feels... Well, I know that he feels charged and still ready to go."
What's next: The 2026 season marks a significant overhaul for F1, with new power unit regulations, Cadillac entering as the 11th team, and Sauber transitioning to Audi. This creates an unpredictable landscape.
- Hulkenberg refrained from speculating on specific team performances but acknowledged the scale of the change: "It's such a big change, such a big reset. I don't like speculating about that, especially just against one team."
- "There's 11 teams next year and everyone is obviously working hard right now to put the best car and package on the road, but you just need to keep focused, work hard and see what happens."
Other drivers, like Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, also view Cadillac’s entry and the return of two experienced drivers positively, calling it a boost for the sport and promising more competitive racing.