Arriving this year in Formula 1, Cadillac could already completely reconsider its driver duo, composed of Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, recruited to bring their experience to the American project.
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For its debut, Cadillac had favored experience and stability.
The American team had thus chosen to rely on two veterans of the grid who were sidelined, Pérez and Bottas, rather than immediately launching young drivers in F1.
Bottas on the hot seat?
The strategy could however evolve quickly. For several months, the name Colton Herta has been circulating insistently around Cadillac. The American, who is currently racing in Formula 2, could join the team as early as 2027. Until now, Herta was mainly presented as the possible replacement for Valtteri Bottas, whose recent performances have been less convincing.
The Finn is moreover the first of the two drivers to have been placed at the center of speculation about his future. As early as May, after only five laborious Grands Prix, this had fueled the first rumors. Cadillac had then still not scored a single point, while Bottas had only achieved a 13th place as best result and had outqualified Pérez only twice.
His 16th place at the Canadian Grand Prix, last among classified drivers and four laps behind the winner despite several retirements, had also strengthened the questions. In a team that had precisely recruited two experienced drivers to help build its project, these performances had begun to weigh.
Change of course
According to Sky Sport Italia and Bild, Cadillac was then closely monitoring Bottas’s situation, with Herta presented as a possible option to succeed him. The American team had however firmly denied this information at the time, proof that the Finn’s departure was far from decided. But the project envisaged by Cadillac could now be even more radical.
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According to Marca, Pérez could also be replaced, with Rafael Câmara cited as another potential candidate. Cadillac could therefore decide to completely turn the page on its first duo and line up Herta and Câmara in 2027. A particularly risky choice for a team still in the building phase, which would then abandon the experience of two drivers with several years of F1 behind them in favor of two young profiles.
This prospect could explain why Pérez is starting to look at the possibilities available to him elsewhere. Still according to Marca, the Mexican would fear that Cadillac is preparing his replacement and would therefore consider not waiting for a possible decision from the team.
Pérez on the way out
A situation that contrasts with his recent statements. Last week, Pérez had however explained to RACER that he wanted to see the Cadillac project develop: “I think when you perform, your value increases,” he said. Obviously, there could be movements and all that, but for me, the most important thing is to see what will happen here in the coming months. I want to see this challenge move forward.”
The Aston Martin track, which had at one time been mentioned for Pérez, now seems to have cooled down. Another option could however open up at Williams. The Grove team could indeed have to find a replacement for Carlos Sainz if the Spaniard were to leave the team at the end of the 2026 season. Perez would then have a concrete possibility to bounce back.
Will Cadillac really go as far as completely upheaving its driver duo? Replacing Pérez and Bottas simultaneously with Herta and Câmara would be a bet for a team that is only starting its second season in Formula 1.
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