No U.S.-born drivers are currently competing in Formula 1. Many have in the past, and several inspired Brad Pitt’s “Sonny Hayes,” star of the current summer blockbuster F1: The Movie. So when GM announced a Cadillac F1 team for the 2026 season, rumors swirled about the U.S. team handing the wheel to a U.S. driver.
U.S.-born drivers fueling the rumor mill included Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Jack Crawford. But with such a deep motorsports tradition in the U.S., there was no shortage of IndyCar and even NASCAR alums fans imagined seeing in the driver’s seat of a Cadillac F1 car.
Then General Motors booked two guests on Good Morning America to introduce its drivers. Who arrived for the interview? Sergio “Checo” Perez of Mexico and Valtteri Bottas of Finland.
Perez and Bottas bring experience to Cadillac
There are currently ten teams in the F1 lineup. Each team fields two cars and thus has two main drivers. Only two teams have two drivers who have each won a race in their career. That’s because F1 is a sport dominated by a few elite stars. In 2026, Cadillac will become the third team with two race-winning veteran drivers.
“This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me…This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision.”–Valtteri Bottas
Perez and Bottas are both 35-year-old drivers, each with a wealth of experience. But that’s not where their similarities end. For years, Perez raced with Red Bull and played second driver to Max Verstappen. At the same time, Bottas was with Mercedes-Benz, acting as second driver to Lewis Hamilton.
Long careers with powerful teams have led to impressive stats for both drivers. Bottas has started in 246 F1 races, landed on the podium 67 times, and won 10 races. Perez has started in 281 races, stood on the podium 39 times, and earned a first-place finish six times.
“I’m really pleased to be part of such a dynamic line-up, and together I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender, the team of the Americas…We’re counting on support from across the continent – and we want to make everyone proud.”
–Sergio “Checo” Perez
Cadillac is counting on a driver duo with such deep experience to guide it as it attempts to build a car and an entire F1 team. Meanwhile, Bottas and Perez are excited to build something from the ground up—and obviously hoping for their long-overdue turn in the limelight. Cadillac is shaping up to be a melting pot of hustlers, striving for their shot. And I can’t think of a more “American” story than that.
See Cadillac’s new drivers interviewed on Good Morning America in the video below:
