Sergio “Checo” Pérez has locked in his Formula 1 future. The Mexican veteran has signed a multi-year contract extension with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team that will keep him racing for the American outfit until at least the end of 2029. The announcement lands at the perfect moment—on the eve of his home race in Mexico City, where he will make his 300th Grand Prix start.
This is more than a routine renewal. It is a clear statement of belief from both sides in a project still in its infancy.
A VETERAN RETURNS AND COMMITS TO BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP
Pérez joined Cadillac for its debut season in 2026 after sitting out 2025 following his departure from Red Bull. The six-time Grand Prix winner arrived with a résumé that includes a third-place finish in the 2022 drivers’ championship and a runner-up spot behind Max Verstappen the following year. At 36, he is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, trailing only Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in career starts.
Cadillac chose experience for its first year, pairing Pérez with fellow veteran Valtteri Bottas. The early results have been tough—neither driver has scored a point so far in 2026, with Pérez’s best finishes sitting at 14th. Yet the Mexican has consistently outperformed his teammate and earned praise for the quality of his technical feedback. That input has helped the team refine the car and improve trackside operations across its hubs in Silverstone, Indianapolis, and Charlotte.
Pérez himself has been clear about the reality of the task. “Joining Cadillac from day one was a project I truly believed in, and extending my commitment feels like a natural continuation of this chapter,” he said. “Building a Formula 1 team from the ground up takes time, relentless work and patience, but the progress we are making together is incredibly rewarding. There is still a lot of work ahead of us and I am fully committed for the next three years.”
WHY THIS DEAL MATTERS FOR CADILLAC AND FOR PÉREZ
New teams rarely thrive overnight. Cadillac is learning the hard lessons of Formula 1 in real time—development cycles, operational logistics, and the unforgiving nature of a full season. Securing a driver of Pérez’s caliber and experience gives the organization continuity at a critical stage. Team CEO Dan Towriss highlighted exactly that: securing Checo’s talent and leadership provides the foundation needed to push further up the grid.
For Pérez, the extension offers stability after the abrupt end of his Red Bull chapter. It also keeps him in the car through his late 30s, with the chance to climb the all-time starts list. Completing this deal would put him on course to move into the top three for career race starts, behind only Alonso and Hamilton. Reaching 300 starts at home already makes him just the seventh driver in history to hit that mark—and the first to do it in front of his own fans.
The timing is no coincidence. Mexico City always delivers one of the loudest, most passionate crowds on the calendar. Pérez will take part in a show run on the streets of the capital before the race weekend, adding extra emotion to an already special occasion.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE BROADER F1 PICTURE
Cadillac’s decision also sends signals about its long-term ambitions. The team has not yet confirmed its second seat for 2027, leaving Bottas’s future less certain. Names such as Colton Herta have been linked in recent speculation. By locking in Pérez first, Cadillac has drawn a clear line: the Mexican is central to the project’s next phase.
In a sport where driver markets can turn chaotic, this kind of early commitment is valuable. It reduces uncertainty for the driver and allows the team to plan chassis development and operational improvements with a known reference point in the cockpit. Pérez’s willingness to stay through the difficult early years also suggests genuine belief that Cadillac can progress under the current and upcoming regulations.
LOOKING AHEAD: PATIENCE, PROGRESS, AND A HOME CROWD
Pérez has never been one to chase short-term glory at the expense of long-term projects. His career path—from Sauber and McLaren through Force India/Racing Point to Red Bull and now Cadillac—shows a driver who understands the value of contribution beyond pure results. At a team still finding its feet, that attitude is gold.
The Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend will be emotional regardless of the result. Reaching 300 starts at home is a rare achievement. Extending his contract on the same weekend turns the occasion into a statement of continuity.
Formula 1 rarely rewards patience overnight, but teams that invest in the right people and stick with them through the hard yards often find their reward later. Cadillac has bet that Sergio Pérez is one of those people. Pérez has bet that Cadillac is a project worth the long haul.
For Mexican fans, for the growing American presence in Formula 1, and for a driver writing a new chapter after a turbulent exit from a championship-winning team, this deal feels like the right next step. The real work continues—and Checo is staying to see it through.
