One of many largest speaking factors from a moist Zandvoort paddock on Thursday’s media day was the return of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for F1 2026.
Forward of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Cadillac confirmed the double signing of Bottas and Perez to kind a highly-experienced driver line-up for his or her debut F1 marketing campaign subsequent yr.
F1’s drivers advised media together with Crash.web their views on the return of two rivals who’ve spent 2025 on the sidelines after dropping their seats on the finish of final season…
Max Verstappen
“Once I noticed the information come out, I despatched a message to him [Perez]. I’m very blissful for him that he bought a seat. He is an awesome man, and we all the time bought alongside very effectively. So I am blissful to see him again on the grid. How he will carry out will even rely on how good the automobile goes to be. It’s kind of troublesome to say for the time being, nevertheless it’s a brand new alternative and I am certain he is very excited for it.”
Lewis Hamilton
“I’m actually blissful for Valtteri. He’s an excellent pal and he actually deserves to be again. I do know he’s bought loads of expertise that he’ll be capable of convey to any group.”
George Russell
“I am very blissful for Valtteri. He positively deserves to be again on the grid. I flew with him this morning right here, so I mentioned congratulations, then the birthday cake arrives. I did not even realise it was his birthday as effectively! So loads occurring for him however yeah, blissful.”
Bottas celebrated his thirty sixth birthday on Thursday
Fernando Alonso
“We’re all pals and we all know one another. All of them deserve the Method 1 seat. They show it they usually have the expertise. Sadly as all the time in F1, there’s solely 22 seats. He [Felipe Drugovich] deserves perhaps to have a go, however I take the positives from the information.
“Having Checo and Valtteri is sweet information for the game, it’s excellent news for them. I’m blissful for them. Completely happy Birthday to Valtteri as effectively, it’s been an excellent week for him. I’m blissful for them however as standard when there’s this sort of information then you definately assume the take a look at drivers are usually not getting the prospect. However this isn’t an academy or a charity factor, it’s solely [for] the perfect.”
Kimi Antonelli
“I am actually blissful he is been capable of finding a seat for subsequent yr. So he will be again on the grid. For certain, you are going to miss him as a result of he is been very supportive and he will nonetheless be within the group till the tip of the season, in order that’s good. However in fact, it is a bit unhappy. However clearly, I am tremendous blissful for him and he absolutely deserves it.”
Alex Albon
“I might say one of many advantages of my yr [on the sidelines] – and I believe additionally to Checo’s and Valtteri’s – is the regulation reset. You don’t have the drivers carrying all of the expertise from the previous few years of the automobile’s rules, so it’s a bit extra of a degree taking part in discipline as soon as you come back.
“I don’t understand how concerned they have been by way of holding sharp – coaching, driving, and so forth. I keep in mind throughout my yr, I used to be doing a little Pirelli assessments and a number of simulator work, which positively helped. I believe we’re in barely completely different positions as a result of they’ve much more expertise and may in all probability get away with not doing as a lot.
“My yr was a bit extra about studying and ensuring I used to be as ready as attainable for my Williams seat. I don’t assume with their expertise they’ll have missed out an excessive amount of – they’ll fall again into the swing of issues fairly shortly.”
Perez will look to place his troubled Crimson Bull stint behind him
Pierre Gasly
“I believe it’s wonderful for the game. They’re nice characters of our sport during the last 10 years or so. They’ve been preventing on the entrance of the grid, they’ve been working with prime groups and been profitable. It’s an awesome addition. It was unhappy to see them go away. Clearly we’ve got a number of younger drivers coming and also you want area for it however I believe including two vehicles on the grid, they’re in all probability the 2 drivers who take advantage of sense to be becoming a member of. They’re nice to struggle with and I am blissful for them.”
Esteban Ocon
“Acquainted faces, drivers I have been racing with for my complete profession, just about. It is nice to see Checo again; I used to be teaming up with him for, for 2 years, so it is nice to see him again on the grid and Valtteri, I believe each of them need to be there.
“[A comeback] just isn’t straightforward for certain, however I believe with such a degree of expertise, it should not take them too lengthy to get again up to the mark they’ve had lots of of races.
“They understand how a group works. They understand how Method One works. Additionally, we’re going to have far more testing earlier than we get again to racing with a brand new period of vehicles. Everyone’s going to study and that is going to be simpler for the blokes coming again than regular, than for those who simply take the practice whereas it is nonetheless shifting.”
Franco Colapinto
“I like Checo and he was the motive force I used to be cheering for after I was very younger. On the finish of the day, he was the one closest to Argentina. Mexico and Argentina are shut collectively and he was the one I used to be cheering for. It’s nice to see him again within the sport. We miss him loads, so I am very blissful for him to be again in F1 and to see him once more can be nice, so can’t look ahead to subsequent yr.”
Nico Hulkenberg
“I clearly had numerous day out, three years as a substitute of 1. I believe all of it relies upon how aggressive their bundle can be additionally, it is all linked to that. However I believe it is in all probability constructive and refreshing for him [Perez] to disconnect and to observe all of it with some long way from the consolation of your sofa at residence. It is fairly an fascinating expertise, so I am certain it was good for him and that he feels – effectively I do know that he feels charged and nonetheless able to go.”
Oliver Bearman
“It is sensible to go along with two guys who’re recognized portions throughout the sport. Taking a rookie is in fact an even bigger threat than taking two guys with a number of expertise. However I do assume there are lots of people not on this grid who’ve an enormous quantity of expertise and will have the chance to indicate what they’ll do.
“Felipe [Drugovich] is one in every of them. On the prime of each class, there are a number of nice IndyCar drivers who would do an excellent job right here. However that call is sensible. If I used to be on the prime of an F1 group beginning out from nothing, I might do the identical, I believe.”
