Sergio Perez may return to Components 1 in 2026 to affix the nascent Cadillac operation, in accordance with the staff’s advisor Mario Andretti.
The 1978 world champion has been appointed a director on Cadillac’s F1 board and his job duties embrace looking two drivers for its Ferrari-powered automotive subsequent 12 months.
Andretti careworn that Basic Motors is in search of an skilled driver to guide its line-up and help its high-profile entry into the top of motorsport.
He defined that the staff has already shortlisted three drivers for the mission, however stopped in need of revealing when a ultimate choice might be made.
“The second seat will certainly be for an skilled driver that may be obtainable,” the 85-year-old informed ESPN.
“Everyone knows that the choice in that respect is kind of clear. Perhaps three drivers realistically to select from, I am not going to inform you which of them.
“I want I may inform you this however that is one thing that we’re holding very personal on our personal as a result of we do not need to give somebody some hopes in some areas the place possibly it isn’t going to occur.”
Will Sergio Perez return to F1 with Cadillac?
Perez has been out of drive since he was dropped by Purple Bull on the finish of final season.
The Mexican beforehand acknowledged that he would take a sabbatical for six months earlier than deciding the following step in his profession.
Many see the 35-year-old as a super candidate for Cadillac, having scored six wins and 39 podiums since he made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2011.
Requested if Perez and Mick Schumacher – one other ex-F1 racer and not using a grand prix seat – are contenders for a Cadillac seat, Andretti stated: “Completely. These are all choices.
“You take a look at who is accessible and you may see who has probably the most expertise. You need expertise for certain.
“I haven’t got the ultimate say however I’ll have some affect. We communicate on a regular basis [with the team] [and] all of us prefer to be on the identical web page.
“I am not the full boss so I do not make the ultimate choices, however I believe they are going to hearken to me.”
Perez performed a key function in Max Verstappen’s title bid in 2021 and likewise helped Purple Bull win back-to-back constructors’ titles in 2022-23.
When Purple Bull axed him from its line-up final season, it referred to his lack of leads to 2024 as a justification.
Nonetheless, his alternative Liam Lawson struggled much more to adapt to his new environment at Purple Bull this 12 months, resulting in solutions that there are deeper points stopping Verstappen’s teammates from succeeding in F1.
Andretti stated Lawson’s plight within the early races of 2025 exhibits how good a job Perez was doing in a automotive that was changing into more and more troublesome to drive final 12 months.
“All I can say is that Liam Lawson is making Checo look very, superb,” stated Andretti.
“The younger lad is having some actually massive issues adjusting to the automotive and possibly Yuki [Tsunoda] must be in that place. Assume he most likely deserved that drive greater than Liam.”
