Sergio Perez has inked a contract with Cadillac Racing for the 2025 season, claiming he still has about three more competitive years ahead and that the fledgling program reignites his drive.
From Red Bull exit to Cadillacs dreams
After finishing second in the 2023 title race, Perez’s 2024 campaign saw his result tumble to eighth place overall with only four podiums. The decline culminated in a contract termination by Red Bull at the end of the year, leaving the driver out of Formula 1 for a whole season.
Cadillac’s rookie ambition and veteran lineup
Cadillac Racing announced the Mexican’s return with Valtteri Bottas, using the pair’s top‑team experience to steer a brand‑new roster. Perez said the chance to help develop a car from zero is “something that few drivers get.” The team counts on him to shape engineering decisions and performance upgrades.
Perez voice on the Beyond the Grid podcast
Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid show, Perez noted he “feels like a project” and that the team’s attention to his feedback makes the role feel more meaningful than a conventional seat. He added that the “first time” he can influence a car’s direction in such depth is unique to his career.
When will the engine dim?
Perez described the signal that might prompt a retirement: a loss of the internal will to stay focused on the car and its engineers. “Once I start thinking less about the next lap or how to improve, that’s the first alarm,” he said. He pointed out that while some drivers linger into their fifties, he expects the “engine” to fade before he is thirty‑five.
Future outlook
With Cadillac’s ambitions still in early stages, Perez sees the dev‑team’s progress as the main factor sustaining his enthusiasm. He capped the conversation by noting that seeing a project advance deserves the added years he has left and that he will pursue other ventures once the effort concludes.
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images.
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