Villeneuve's Verdict: Cadillac Needs 'Mercedes Bottas' with Perez

Cadillac has officially confirmed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as its first Formula 1 drivers, a move that 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve views with cautious optimism. He asserts that the new team will need the "Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes"—a driver in peak form—rather than his more recent iteration seen at Sauber.

Why it matters:

A new Formula 1 team like Cadillac faces immense challenges, and its driver lineup is paramount for early development and performance. While experience is undoubtedly valuable, Villeneuve’s comments highlight that not all experience is equally beneficial, especially when a driver's performance can fluctuate significantly between teams.

The Details:

• Cadillac's new driver duo boasts a combined 527 races of F1 experience, making them one of the most seasoned pairings slated for the 2026 grid.
• Jacques Villeneuve, a former World Champion, stressed the critical distinction between good and bad experience: "Experience is important when you’re a new team, but there’s different kinds of experiences. Good experience and bad experience."
• He specifically pointed to Valtteri Bottas’s varying career performance: "Bottas won against Lewis, was very active in moving the Mercedes car forward... it was hard at Sauber, I think he had just lost interest so if you take the Bottas of Mercedes, great, and he has image. Perez won and comes with cash as well."
• Naomi Schiff endorsed Cadillac's decision to prioritize experienced drivers over an American rookie, emphasizing the invaluable data they can provide from working with diverse teams and engine types.
• Lewis Hamilton also praised Bottas, calling him "one of the most honest, probably the funniest, Finns I would imagine, and just the most genuine person to work with." He added that both Bottas and Perez bring "knowledge that they both bring from two great teams will help them progress faster."

What's next:

Cadillac's entry into F1 for 2026 will heavily rely on the immediate contributions of Bottas and Perez to develop their new car and establish their presence on the grid. Their veteran insights will be critical in navigating the complexities of a new team's debut season.