Fittipaldi claims Lawson and Tsunoda are 'worse' than Perez.

      "We're currently witnessing the challenges."

      By merely stepping back, Sergio Perez's reputation is being restored in 2025. That’s the opinion of Formula 1 icon Emerson Fittipaldi, who reflects on the decline of Perez's career with Red Bull but is optimistic about the Mexican possibly returning to the grid with Cadillac next year. "Checo Perez was an excellent representative for us (Latin Americans), though he wasn't fully appreciated," said two-time world champion Fittipaldi in an interview with AS Mexico.

      After being let go due to subpar performance, Perez was replaced by Liam Lawson at the start of 2025; however, Lawson's performance proved even worse, leading to a quick replacement by Yuki Tsunoda. "This year we’re testing drivers alongside Max Verstappen, and in my view, they are less capable than Checo," remarked the 78-year-old Fittipaldi. "Perez won in Monaco and Baku – both challenging street circuits – and he has impressive speed. We are noticing the struggles now. Red Bull is swapping drivers in hopes of finding someone who can match Verstappen, but Checo was the best."

      Another F1 legend, Cadillac advisor and fellow former world champion Mario Andretti, openly acknowledges that Perez is being considered for a seat in 2026. "The driver situation is under assessment, and essentially, you're looking at who is available based on the level of experience required," Andretti stated. "Checo Perez meets those criteria. He’s one of the candidates we could potentially approach, but for now, I can't comment further."

      Fittipaldi encourages a partnership between Perez and Cadillac. "General Motors is entering Formula 1 with the Cadillac brand and a serious program, and certainly, Checo is a strong candidate," he expressed. Even the individual who replaced Perez—Red Bull team principal Christian Horner—agrees with this perspective. "It was a challenging year for Checo last year, but it's encouraging to see a potential return being discussed," he remarked. "He’s a very seasoned driver and a true winner. He has a lot of fans. It would be great to have him back on the grid."