News Summary
- Cadillac has confirmed Sergio Pérez will remain with its Formula 1 team through the end of 2029, announcing a contract extension ahead of his home Mexican Grand Prix.
- The agreement guarantees Pérez’s place in the team’s 2027 plans, while Valtteri Bottas’s future and Colton Herta’s possible promotion remain unresolved.
- The Mexican driver will help Cadillac through its next phase of development, including its planned transition from Ferrari power units to its own General Motors engines in 2029.
Cadillac has confirmed that Sergio Pérez will remain with its Formula 1 team until the end of the 2029 season, announcing a new contract extension on Wednesday (October 28) ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix. The agreement secures the six-time Grand Prix winner’s future with the American manufacturer for another three seasons and ends speculation about his position in the team’s 2027 driver line-up.
The announcement comes as Pérez prepares to make his 300th Formula 1 Grand Prix start in front of his home supporters at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Cadillac has yet to score its first championship point during its debut season, but the manufacturer has decided to retain the Mexican’s experience as it prepares for 2027 and the eventual introduction of its own power unit in 2029.
Pérez signs new Cadillac contract through 2029
Cadillac confirmed the agreement shortly before the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, extending the relationship established when Pérez joined the American team for its inaugural Formula 1 campaign.
The 36-year-old returned to the championship in 2026 after spending the previous season away following his departure from Red Bull.
He initially signed a deal covering the 2026 and 2027 seasons, but his longer-term future had become the subject of speculation as Cadillac struggled to make competitive progress.
The new agreement now guarantees his continued participation in the project through the end of 2029, subject to the normal contractual terms.
Pérez welcomed the extension and emphasised that he remains committed to building the organisation.
“Joining Cadillac from day one was a project I truly believed in,” the Mexican said in the team’s announcement.
He acknowledged that establishing a Formula 1 operation from the beginning requires considerable work, patience and long-term commitment.
Pérez added that he was fully committed to the next three years, thanking the team’s leadership and General Motors for their confidence.
The agreement is particularly significant because it gives Cadillac continuity as the manufacturer prepares for several major technical and organisational developments.
Cadillac praises Pérez’s leadership despite difficult debut season
Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss described the extension as an important step in the organisation’s development.
The American team has relied heavily on the experience of Pérez and Valtteri Bottas while establishing its race operations, technical infrastructure and development processes.
Neither driver has scored a point in 2026, with Cadillac occupying the final position in the Constructors’ Championship.
However, the team has repeatedly emphasised that its immediate performance does not fully reflect the contributions of its drivers.
Pérez has spent much of the season providing technical feedback and pushing engineers to improve the car’s reliability and competitiveness.
Towriss said the new agreement was particularly important because of the continuity the Mexican provides.
“Securing Checo’s talent and leadership gives us the continuity and commitment we need,” the executive explained.
Cadillac believes that retaining an experienced driver will help it build on the foundations established during its first season.
That includes preparing for the next technical development cycle and improving the team’s operational consistency.
Pérez’s extension changes Cadillac’s 2027 driver market
The announcement also has direct consequences for the team’s second race seat.
Cadillac had previously declined to guarantee publicly that both Pérez and Bottas would remain in 2027.
Speaking during the United States Grand Prix weekend, team principal Marcin Budkowski refused to discuss specific contracts, explaining that decisions would be communicated through official announcements.
At the time, Cadillac left open the possibility of a driver change for 2027, amid interest involving Colton Herta and Esteban Ocon.
Pérez’s new contract resolves one part of that uncertainty.
The Mexican is confirmed to continue with the organisation, meaning any change to the established pairing would now involve the other seat, unless Cadillac makes a separate contractual decision.
Cadillac’s Formula 1 driver situation
| Driver | 2026 role | Situation for 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| S. PÉREZ | Race driver | Confirmed — contract through 2029 |
| V. BOTTAS | Race driver | Future not publicly confirmed |
| C. HERTA | Test and development driver | Seeking promotion; no race seat confirmed |
| E. OCON | Haas driver | Linked with Cadillac; no agreement announced |
The table illustrates the distinction between Pérez’s confirmed agreement and the speculation surrounding Cadillac’s other options.
The announcement does not confirm Bottas’s departure or Herta’s promotion.
Those decisions remain separate from Pérez’s contract extension.
What does Pérez’s new contract mean for Colton Herta?
Herta’s Formula 1 ambitions have become increasingly important to Cadillac’s longer-term plans.
The American left IndyCar to pursue a pathway towards Formula 1 and has spent 2026 combining Formula 2 with development responsibilities for Cadillac.
The team has given him multiple official Grand Prix practice appearances to help him gain experience and accumulate the points required for an FIA Super Licence.
His fifth FP1 outing is scheduled for Friday in Mexico, when he will replace Bottas.
Cadillac believes he has accumulated 39 points, while an independently documented calculation produces 38. The minimum requirement is 40.
His shortened Monza appearance did not earn a point because a technical failure prevented him from completing the necessary 100km.
Mexico therefore represents another significant opportunity, although his precise eligibility remains unresolved.
With Pérez now confirmed through 2029, a possible Herta promotion would require Cadillac to make room elsewhere in its line-up.
That places renewed attention on Bottas, whose 2027 position has not been confirmed in the latest announcement.
However, Cadillac has not stated that Pérez’s extension means Herta will replace Bottas.
The team may still retain its experienced pairing while continuing Herta’s development.
Bottas faces uncertainty as Cadillac keeps second seat open
Bottas joined Cadillac alongside Pérez to provide experience during the manufacturer’s entry into Formula 1.
The Finnish driver previously competed for Williams, Mercedes and Sauber, winning ten Grands Prix during his career.
His knowledge of established Formula 1 teams has been valuable to Cadillac as the organisation develops its engineering and race operations.
However, reports have suggested that the team could consider changes to its line-up as it attempts to improve competitiveness.
Herta remains a potential candidate because of his connection to Cadillac’s American identity.
Ocon has also been mentioned in discussions surrounding the team’s future following confirmation that he will leave Haas.
Pérez’s extension now provides a clearer picture of the team’s priorities.
Cadillac has chosen to retain one experienced race driver for the long term, leaving the second position as the principal unresolved question.
The team has not announced when it will complete its 2027 driver line-up.
Agreement contrasts with Pérez’s recent retirement comments
The timing of the extension is particularly interesting because Pérez recently acknowledged that he was approaching the final stage of his Formula 1 career.
Speaking to Mexican media ahead of Austin, the driver admitted that Cadillac’s development was taking longer than he originally expected.
He also explained that his family responsibilities were becoming increasingly important as he considered how much longer to remain in the championship.
Those comments initially raised questions about whether he would continue beyond his existing agreement.
However, the driver did not announce a retirement date and repeatedly emphasised that he wanted to help Cadillac become competitive before leaving Formula 1.
The new contract provides a clearer timetable for that ambition.
Pérez has now committed to remaining with the American manufacturer through 2029, extending his involvement well beyond the team’s second season.
The agreement also demonstrates that his concerns about the speed of development have not ended his belief in the project.
Pérez will be part of Cadillac’s transition to its own F1 engine
The contract carries particular significance because 2029 is also the target year for Cadillac’s transition to a General Motors power unit.
The team currently uses Ferrari engines while GM develops its own Formula 1 power-unit programme in the United States.
The project includes a dedicated manufacturing and engineering facility in North Carolina, which forms part of Cadillac’s broader technical investment.
General Motors recently confirmed the planned opening of its American Formula 1 engine facility, an important step towards becoming a complete works manufacturer.
Pérez’s extension means he is expected to remain with Cadillac through that transition.
His experience developing cars and working with different power-unit suppliers could prove useful as the organisation prepares to introduce its own engine.
However, GM’s 2029 target remains dependent on the successful development and homologation of its power unit.
The new driver contract does not guarantee that the engine programme will meet every planned milestone.
Mexican GP provides backdrop for Cadillac’s long-term announcement
Cadillac has deliberately announced Pérez’s extension ahead of one of the most important weekends of his career.
The Mexican Grand Prix will mark his 300th Formula 1 start, giving local supporters another opportunity to celebrate the country’s most successful modern Grand Prix driver.
Pérez has six career victories and previously finished runner-up in the World Championship with Red Bull.
His return to Mexico with Cadillac comes under very different competitive circumstances.
The American team has struggled throughout its debut campaign and remains without a championship point.
Nevertheless, the new agreement demonstrates that Cadillac views Pérez as an important part of its long-term project rather than a temporary solution for its first season.
The Mexican Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, November 1, at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The race begins at 2:00pm local time, equivalent to 3:00pm in New York and 8:00pm in London.
For further information, the complete Mexico City Grand Prix schedule and worldwide start times cover practice, qualifying and the race.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
