Verstappen Highlights Perez's 'Valuable' Role for Cadillac's F1 Debut

Max Verstappen Praises Sergio Perez's Value for Cadillac's F1 Entry

Max Verstappen believes his former Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, will be "very valuable" to Cadillac as the General Motors-backed team prepares for its debut F1 season. Perez has joined the new outfit alongside Valtuppu Bottas, bringing a significant injection of experience to the fledgling operation.

Why it matters: Perez's extensive F1 background is seen as crucial for Cadillac's establishment in the sport, particularly as the team looks to navigate its initial seasons. His insights into different team structures and car regulations will be a vital asset.

The big picture: Cadillac aims to enter Formula 1 in a highly competitive environment. Securing experienced drivers like Perez and Bottas signals a strategic move to accelerate their development and understanding of the sport's complex dynamics.

The details:

• Verstappen highlighted Perez's diverse experience across multiple F1 teams, emphasizing his understanding of varied operational structures.
  • "He has driven for a lot of different teams, so he knows a lot about how teams work. Every single team works a little differently. That’s already a very interesting trait – it’s nice to understand what people are good at or where some teams are worse."
• Perez's career spans several eras of power units and chassis regulations, including stints with Sauber, McLaren, and Force India/Racing Point before Red Bull.
• This broad experience, covering two power unit eras and four chassis regulation generations, will be key as Cadillac faces new rules in 2026.
• Verstappen noted that Perez's understanding of both high-performing and less-competitive cars will help Cadillac "push them forward" from the start.
  • "To have that general understanding of how a great car is, how a car is that’s not fantastic – I think it’s very valuable for them to start with."

What's next: Cadillac's entry into F1, bolstered by experienced drivers like Perez, faces the challenge of being competitive from the outset. Their collective knowledge will be instrumental in navigating the learning curve and adapting to the sport's demands, especially with significant rule changes anticipated for 2026.