Salo cautions Cadillac about signing Perez.

      "I prefer not to speculate on these matters, but..."

      A former Formula 1 driver is of the opinion that Cadillac should not revive Sergio Perez's halted career. This week, as Valtteri Bottas playfully teased his followers with a Cadillac-themed post on social media, a British media report stated that the Finn is close to securing a seat with the new eleventh F1 team in 2026. Fellow Finn Mika Salo believes that Bottas, 35, would be an excellent choice for Cadillac, especially since the new team is reportedly looking to sign its first driver in the upcoming weeks.

      "It's a new team," he remarked to the Ilta Sanomat newspaper, "so having experience is crucial. Valtteri has valuable experience from Mercedes. He's had the chance to observe and reflect from the sidelines instead of being in the driver's seat, and I think someone like Valtteri would be the ideal candidate," Salo added. "An experienced driver brings insight and skill to the team. He can also suggest who else might be worth bringing on board," noted the former Toyota and Ferrari driver.

      "I don’t like to speculate on these issues, but it would be great if Valtteri returned to F1 next season. He's already involved in the scene. Finns are advantageous for these kinds of projects - no politics, just straightforwardness. A Finn would integrate well into such a new team," Salo, 58, commented.

      It is believed that Cadillac’s strategy involves pairing an experienced driver like Bottas with a younger - preferably American - newcomer from the US racing circuit. Another potential candidate for Cadillac in the experienced category is Sergio Perez, who shared with the BLCK MNKY program Desde El Paddock this week that he feels Red Bull is "very sorry" about how their partnership ended last year.

      "An apology?" Perez began. "No, I think that in the end, that's how sports are, and decisions were made due to excessive pressure, which they themselves created."

      Perez, also 35 years old like Bottas, is still supported by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s companies and is now represented by a new manager - the prominent Lebanese motorsport entrepreneur Khalil Beschir. When asked about discussions with Cadillac or other F1 teams regarding 2026, the Mexican driver acknowledged: "Things are going well, but it's still early. I believe as the year goes on, everything will become clearer, and I’ll be able to reach a final decision," Perez mentioned. "I understand I won’t be in Formula 1 this year, and we’ll see what unfolds next year."

      Salo, however, cautioned Cadillac against choosing Perez. "I don’t believe Perez would be a wise choice," he stated. "I would opt for two experienced European drivers who aren’t as inconsistent as Perez. If they can’t find two, then a younger driver who can learn from the other."