It had finally been revealed that both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will race for the new Cadillac Formula One team next year. They bring years of experience from very successful teams with them, having worked for Mercedes and Red Bull respectively. Rumours had been rumbling for a while now about a comeback for both drivers, so it was only a matter of time before it was announced.
I personally have mixed feelings about this decision, not that it has any effect whatsoever. I am happy to see both of these drivers back in a sport they know well. I do not particularly think they have ever shown, or been given the chance to show, their true championship potential. Having Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as team-mates did not give them a chance to be the number one driver. With talent and personalities like that on the other side of the garage, they stood very little chance of being able to shine.
That is not to say these two are not talented. Pérez earned a reputation as a tyre whisperer in his time, and Bottas was more than capable of keeping up with and supporting Hamilton on track. It clearly takes two to win a World Championship for a team, and Bottas played a major role in that success.
Both drivers have careers spanning over a decade, with plenty of race wins and podiums to their names. Bottas has collected ten race wins and 67 podiums, while Pérez has six race wins and a total of 39 podiums. Bottas holds the record for the most career points 1,797 without a world drivers championship. These are not statistics to be brushed aside as they highlight exactly why both drivers were chosen for a team on the rise.
My problem with it is this. Formula One has a limited number of drivers on the grid, with each team allowed only two. That means just twenty-two drivers will line up on the grid as of next year. With competition at an all-time high to claim a seat in the pinnacle of motorsport, you often find up-and-coming talent struggling to make it into F1.
Now, do not get me wrong, we had a good number of rookies last year, which was great. It had been a long time since we saw a proper wave of new talent rise through the ranks. I am thinking of the likes of Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon. But when the Formula Two champion has no guaranteed place on the grid the following year, I worry that this talent could be wasted.
I can already hear people saying that not everyone deserves to be in Formula One, and I agree. Some drivers simply crack under pressure, and some are taken on for the monetary value they bring to the team. But I am a huge fan of seeing fresh, exciting talent on the grid, and I would hate to see some of it disappear with that age-old question: what could have been?
Still, I hope I am proved wrong. Even though my loyalty lies with McLaren, I am genuinely looking forward to seeing what both Bottas and Pérez can achieve with this new team. Who knows, maybe we will witness the next fairytale story, something reminiscent of Brawn’s legendary success. They certainly have two very strong drivers who can help lay the foundations and build something truly competitive. There is no doubt they are capable of this, and it is easy to see why Cadillac chose to sign them both.
Cadillac’s involvement in motorsport goes back to the 1920s, reflecting a long tradition of racing and innovation. With wins and championships in endurance racing, NASCAR, and the Pirelli World Challenge, expectations for this team are high, and the talent they have now could take them even further.
Even if the team doesn’t achieve instant success, I hope Bottas’s sense of humor continues to shine on social media. I’ve genuinely enjoyed how Mercedes highlighted his timing and natural charm, and hopefully that energy carries over to his new team and inspires Pérez as well.
Who knows what will happen next, but one thing is for sure-Cadillac, Bottas, and Pérez are a combo worth keeping an eye on.
What are your thoughts on Cadillac’s new signings? Were you surprised by the announcement? Let me know in the comments.
Sincerely,
Catherine
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