Perez fires up Cadillac F1’s troops on first factory visit

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The roar of ambition echoed through Cadillac’s gleaming new Formula 1 headquarters in Silverstone on Wednesday as Sergio Perez stepped into the team’s nerve center for the first time.

With the countdown to GM brand’s blockbuster F1 debut in 2026 ticking louder, the six-time grand prix winner rolled into town to fire up the troops, shake hands, and set the stage for a season that promises to blend American audacity with Latin flair.

Fresh off a year away from the cockpit after parting ways with Red Bull at the end of 2024, Perez is back with a vengeance, ready to carve his name into Cadillac’s bold new chapter alongside fellow veteran Valtteri Bottas.

A Hero’s Welcome at Silverstone

Perez, sporting the confidence of a man who’s battled through F1’s fiercest storms, strode into Cadillac’s Silverstone hub like a general rallying his battalion.

The team, still buzzing from August’s announcement that the Mexican and Bottas would form a race-winning duo for their inaugural season, rolled out the red carpet for their star driver.

Social media channels lit up with clips of Checo addressing the factory floor, flanked by team principal Graeme Lowdon, his words a spark to ignite the workforce shaping Cadillac’s Ferrari-powered machines.

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“It’s obviously important to start properly, you know?” Perez told the assembled crew, his tone brimming with purpose.

“[But] for me, it’s a little bit irrelevant of where we start. It’s where we finish.”

That mantra – eyes on the prize, not the starting line – captures the spirit of a team daring to crash F1’s elite party as the grid’s 11th outfit.

Cadillac, backed by General Motors’ muscle and a vision to transition from Ferrari engines to their own works power down the road, is building from the ground up.

Read also: Cadillac’s Perez set for F1 track test with partner car

Perez’s visit wasn’t just a photo op; it was a statement of intent, a chance to weld the team’s spirit to his own relentless drive.

From engineers tweaking aero to mechanics prepping for the long haul, Checo’s presence was a reminder: 2026 isn’t just a debut – it’s a shot at greatness.

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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.