Wheatley: Perez ‘more than capable’ of coming back to F1

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Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 future remains a topic of intrigue as the Mexican driver takes a sabbatical in 2025 following a challenging 2024 season with Red Bull.

However, Jonathan Wheatley, the former Red Bull sporting director and newly appointed Sauber team principal, has thrown his weight behind Perez, insisting the 34-year-old has the talent and experience to make a successful return to the grid in 2026.

Wheatley, who worked closely with the six-time Grand Prix winner during his four-year stint at Red Bull, believes Perez could thrive with a new team like Cadillac, which will enter the sport F1 in 2026.

Speaking to Formula.Hu, Wheatley highlighted Perez’s mental fortitude, technical acumen, and ability to rebound from setbacks as key factors that make him a prime candidate for a comeback.

"I think he's more than capable of coming back and very quickly getting up to speed in a new team," Wheatley told Formula.Hu.

"Checo was in one of the toughest seats in Formula 1 last year, next to Max, and when you're up against somebody like him, you have to keep looking in the mirror and asking more questions of yourself.

"I think if we look back, he struggled a little bit more with the car than Max did, and that seems to be consistent this year as well.

"I was always surprised how he could rebuild himself and come back stronger from each
setback.

"He seems to have an incredible ability to rebuild, and I think also he's just got a great way with him, with the team, and the team naturally responds well to him."

Technical Prowess and Mental Strength

Wheatley’s confidence in Perez also extends to his technical expertise, a critical asset for a team like Cadillac developing a car from the ground up.

"He understands these things very well, and I always thought that his explanations to the engineers about how the car was behaving were very clear and easy to understand," he continued.

"Checo is a very professional, very talented and of course a very fast driver who is a pleasure to work with.”

For Perez to return in 2026, Wheatley believes mental strength will be the deciding factor.

“It comes down as always to mental strength and confidence,” he said.

“I think if a driver's mentally strong and very confident and is driving at the top of his ability, he can miss a period and come back in and be fast again.

“So that's the key, the mental strength is the key.”

Read also:

Perez: ‘People now realize how difficult Red Bull car is to drive’

As Perez spends 2025 with his family, weighing his options, Wheatley’s endorsement serves as a powerful reminder of his enduring potential.

With Cadillac looming as a possible destination, the Mexican’s experience, professionalism, and mental toughness could see him reclaim a spot on the F1 grid, ready to prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.