Whitely does not consider missing one season by Perez to be a problem.

      Jonathan Whithly, former sporting director of Red Bull Racing and now head of the Sauber team, has no doubt about Sergio Perez's racing talents and believes that the Mexican still deserves a place in Formula 1. Of course, the primary interest is from the organizers of the new Cadillac F1 team, but there are also rumors about his contacts with Alpine.

      First and foremost, not all drivers can boast such a track record: over 14 seasons, Sergio has competed in 281 Grands Prix, with 6 wins, a total of 39 podiums, and three pole positions. In 2023, he became the vice world champion.

      When asked what he thought about Perez's desire to return to Formula 1, the British expert replied: “Let me start by saying I really enjoyed working with Sergio. He is a wonderful person, characterized by the right attitude towards life, without any reservations. I have no doubt about his natural speed, and from the very beginning, I was firmly convinced of it.

      When Perez was racing for my previous team, he performed some races just brilliantly, and I don't think there will be serious issues due to his time away from Formula 1, because if you know how to do it, you know how to do it.

      At the beginning of our collaboration, I wanted to get to know him better, help him adapt to the team, so I spent quite a bit of time with him. And I truly appreciated that he actively pushed me in my role as sporting director. It’s not that he criticized me, but he challenged me in a positive way, asking questions about whether I had done everything for the team.

      I think this helped me stay motivated and perform my duties better. I’d like to think that I also helped him, and as a result of our joint work, he became a higher-level professional.”

      Cadillac F1 has not yet finalized its 2026 driver lineup, continues to evaluate potential candidates, and is in negotiations with them. However, Sergio Perez, like Valtteri Bottas, is among the main contenders.