Sergio Perez suggests that the difficulties faced by those who followed him at Red Bull demonstrate his capabilities ahead of his return to Formula 1 with Cadillac.
Perez, along with fellow F1 veteran and multiple race victor Valtteri Bottas, were unveiled on Tuesday as the experienced duo set to spearhead Cadillac’s efforts in 2026 as the 11th team in F1. This announcement signifies the return of the 35-year-old Mexican to the starting grid after a year-long absence.
Perez’s struggles with Red Bull’s challenging 2024 car, despite having recently secured a contract extension, led to the team terminating his contract at the close of 2024. Consequently, Liam Lawson and subsequently Yuki Tsunoda were promoted to the demanding seat alongside Max Verstappen.
Perez, who has won six grand prixes, is entering a completely new setting and asserts that he has “nothing to prove” following his Red Bull departure, which he views as character-building, given the even greater challenges experienced by those who succeeded him.
“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove. It’s not just about the current drivers or those who took my place after me, but even those before that,” he stated. “It’s easy to forget now, but it’s been a very difficult place to be, constantly adapting and building mental confidence. It presents a very unique challenge.”
“I don’t believe I have anything to prove when you look at the number of points they’ve accumulated. It’s approximately five points throughout the entire season [actually seven points].
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
“For me, this comeback is about enjoying the sport. I want to relish the sport that I love, the sport that has given me so much. I couldn’t bear to leave the sport the way I did, which is why I’m returning with this new project. I’m hoping for great success. But above all, I want to enjoy this return.”
Perez acknowledged that the difficult circumstances surrounding his departure from Red Bull, with no guarantee of ever returning to an F1 starting grid, meant that it was essential for him to take an extended break from competition and mentally detach himself before undertaking a new challenge with the American team.
“For me, it was crucial to have this time away from the sport, particularly as it only became apparent towards the end of the year that I would not be continuing with Red Bull,” he disclosed. “So, rather than simply jumping into something to stay on the grid, I needed that time to disconnect from the sport and to figure out what I truly wanted next in my career.”
“Initially, for the first few months, it wasn’t very clear to me what I wanted to do next. But the more I communicated with the Cadillac team, the clearer it became that this is what excites me about returning. It’s not just a matter of rejoining the grid with a typical team to compete for podiums, races, and points. This is a complete project. The dynamic feels different.”
Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Cadillac
Photo by: Cadillac Communications
When questioned about what he had learned during his time away, he responded: “I gained a deeper understanding of myself as a driver. I’ve been under scrutiny throughout my entire career – not only in Formula 1, but also during my karting days. You come to realize that once you take a step back and observe the sport as a fan, the concerns of racing drivers are completely irrelevant to the public, even to those who are knowledgeable about the sport. My vision now, as I return to the sport, is to enjoy it and give my absolute best every time I’m in the car, working alongside the team – that’s what truly matters. Everything else is beyond our control.”
This perspective will also make it easier for Perez to accept starting at the back of the grid, which is a likely scenario in the initial year of Cadillac’s fledgling F1 endeavor under the new 2026 regulations. “Sometimes, if your car is competitive, you can reach the podium, but other times, despite a tremendous race, you might finish P15,” he noted. “The driver who finishes P15, knowing that they have done everything possible together with the team and that they are making progress, should feel proud, especially when watching the sport from an external perspective.”
