Cadillac fends off Alpine to secure Bottas and Perez for 2026 F1 entry

Cadillac is reportedly set to announce Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as their driver lineup for their highly anticipated Formula 1 entry in 2026.

The American manufacturer, which will become the 11th team on the grid next season, could reveal their driver pairing as soon as the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix weekend, sources suggest.

Despite Cadillac’s apparent certainty over their choice, the team reportedly had to fend off last-minute interest from Alpine.

The French outfit, led by Flavio Briatore, is said to have approached both Perez and Bottas with an offer to replace Franco Colapinto – perhaps even immediately – in their lineup.

According to a report from ESPN, both drivers rejected Alpine’s advances, leaving Colapinto likely to retain his seat for the remainder of the season despite his inconsistent performances since stepping in for Jack Doohan.

A Veteran Duo for Cadillac

Perez and Bottas represent proven winners on the Grand Prix stage, making them desirable assets for a new team seeking to accelerate its competitiveness.

Perez, who parted ways with Red Bull at the end of last season, has seen his final year’s performance reassessed after Red Bull juniors Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda struggled alongside Max Verstappen.

Meanwhile, Bottas, previously with Sauber, has spebt this year’s campaign in a test and reserve role at Mercedes, earning backing from Toto Wolff to return to the racing spotlight.

• Read also: Bottas reportedly signed as Cadillac F1’s first driver for 2026

It was speculated that Cadillac’s initial plan had been to pair a seasoned driver with a rookie, potentially featuring an American driver to reflect the team’s heritage.

However, it appears the lure of two experienced campaigners proved too compelling to resist.

With agreements reportedly in place, the duo will spearhead Cadillac’s ambitious F1 entry. The confirmation leaves other drivers, who were in contention for the new seats, scrambling to find alternatives for 2026.

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