Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, intense speculation arose regarding Sergio Pérez allegedly signing with the Cadillac team, set to debut in Formula 1 in 2026. However, the reality is that Pérez has not signed with any team yet, nor is he scheduled to be unveiled as a Cadillac driver in Miami this weekend.
Pérez departed Red Bull at the close of the 2024 season after a four-year tenure, succeeded by Liam Lawson.
According to sources, Pérez has not been in Miami recently, has no plans to attend the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, and will not be present at Cadillac`s team launch event scheduled for Saturday night, May 3, in the city.
Sources indicate that the speculation stems from social media activity tracking the private plane typically used by Pérez, which is often rented out when not in his personal use.
Cadillac is indeed a viable option for the Mexican driver, whose Formula 1 career spanned 2011 to 2024, driving for Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point, and Red Bull during his final four seasons.
Cadillac`s interest in Pérez as a potential driver for 2026 was corroborated to ESPN by team advisor Mario Andretti in a recent interview on the ESPN Racing podcast.
However, Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon recently stated he has a shortlist of seven or eight potential drivers for their 2026 lineup.
Pérez`s current plan, as he has mentioned in interviews including with F1.com, is to defer a decision for six months.
During this period, the Mexican driver has been spending quality time with his family, attending sports events and concerts, vacationing with his children, and generally experiencing a lifestyle he hadn`t known since moving to Europe at age 14 to pursue his F1 aspirations.
Pérez is also observing potential shifts in the 2026 F1 grid landscape. While most drivers are contracted, a prominent figure like Max Verstappen could significantly alter the market dynamics should he choose to leave Red Bull, despite his contract extending to 2028.
A potential move by the four-time world champion could trigger a chain reaction, potentially opening up opportunities beyond the two available seats at Cadillac.
Aston Martin is rumored as a possible destination for Verstappen. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has even voiced apprehension that Verstappen might depart the Milton Keynes team if the RB21 car isn`t sufficiently competitive against rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
Pérez remains a potential candidate, with Cadillac as a clear prospect. His management has also explored other team possibilities, though specifics on which teams or whether Julian Jakobi continues as his agent for this potential second phase of his F1 career remain undisclosed.
Separately, last week, Hungarian website Formula1.Hu published an interview featuring Jonathan Wheatley, formerly Red Bull`s sporting director until 2024. In the interview, Wheatley spoke about Pérez.
In the interview, Wheatley commended Pérez, highlighting his qualities as a driver, his valuable feedback to engineers, and his resilience in overcoming challenges.
This interview doesn`t necessarily imply that Sauber is interested in Pérez, as they already have two drivers under contract. However, it serves to keep the Mexican driver`s name prominent, much like his exclusive interview with F1.com, which effectively conveyed his message: `I`m available and keen to return.`
Pérez had previously stated, before Red Bull`s decision to release him for 2025 despite his contract, that he would only return to F1 if it meant driving a car capable of consistently scoring points.
As a new team entering the sport, Cadillac will face a period of adaptation and development, meaning expectations for their performance in 2026 will need to be realistically set.
