Cadillac stands by its choice of the Bottas-Perez driver pairing.

      Cadillac has justified its choice to launch its Formula 1 program with experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, both non-Americans, amidst criticism for not selecting younger candidates. The announcement made in New York revealed that Bottas and Perez, aged 35, will be the team's new lineup beginning in 2026. Some observers pointed out that although both have previously won with Mercedes and Red Bull, they experienced challenges toward the end of their earlier F1 careers.

      However, Dan Towriss, Cadillac F1 CEO, emphasized that the selection of these two drivers was a strategic decision. "We dedicated significant time to analyzing past experiences and assessing what was happening at Sauber, particularly Valtteri's performance with the car and comparing qualifying times to race outcomes," explained Towriss.

      Regarding Perez, who was let go by Red Bull after the 2024 season due to subpar performances, his reputation has improved as Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson faced difficulties in the same position. "Clearly, none of the other drivers have performed well in that second seat, so we spent considerable time consulting with people at Red Bull to gather insights and feedback," he said.

      Concerns about Perez's motivation after time away from the sport were raised, but Towriss expressed confidence in Cadillac's decision. "When you consider Valtteri, he’s present at the track every weekend, right? It was crucial for us to understand Sergio’s enthusiasm for returning to Formula 1 and his faith in our project, and we were extremely satisfied with his response."

      Perez himself dismissed any notion that he needs to validate his abilities. "It's not just about the current Red Bull drivers or those who followed me, but also those that came before," he insisted. "People often overlook that Red Bull is a particularly challenging environment; constant adaptation and mental resilience are required. It’s a unique challenge. I don’t believe I have anything to prove—just look at how many points Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have gathered this season. About five for the entire year?"

      "For me, it’s more about the chance to return to F1 and enjoy it. I couldn’t leave under the circumstances I did—that's why I’m coming back with a new project, which I hope will be very successful," he added.

      At the same time, Cadillac has expressed a long-term goal of introducing an American driver to the 2026 team. There are rumors regarding Colton Herta moving to Formula 2 as preparation, but Cadillac indicated that Bottas and Perez are secured with multi-year contracts. "It’s vital for us to ensure there’s a pathway for an American driver into Formula 1, and we will be focusing on that," he stated. "As for Colton Herta’s involvement, he doesn’t yet have enough points for the Super License required for Formula 1."

      "Ultimately, we preferred to prioritize experience," Towriss stated. "We’ve onboarded many experienced individuals to help establish Cadillac in Formula 1, but most have not worked together previously. We will create a pathway for an American driver over time, but for our inaugural season, we believe Perez and Bottas represent the ideal driving duo."

      Finally, Towriss dismissed rumors about potentially hiring former Red Bull boss Christian Horner. "There have been no talks with Christian Horner, and there will not be any. I can definitively put that rumor to rest. Graeme Lowdon is our team principal, and he has our complete trust."