F1 drivers chime in to discuss about the return of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to F1 with Cadillac, while some added on rookies missing out.
The F1 drivers welcome the return of Bottas and Perez to F1 and Cadillac after the American signed the veteran duo as their drivers from 2026 onward. The Finn lost his Sauber seat and joined Mercedes as reserve this year, while the Mexican lost his Red Bull seat and stayed away from the sport.
With their experience of over 500 races, it is a formidable line-up at Cadillac, who will bank on the duo to provide them with feedback for the future. They had some doubts initially, but decided for the experience route and opted not to take any youngsters for their first run.
Some of the F1 drivers understood the decision, even though they feel bad for some of the youngsters who are left with no seat. Most of the drivers are happy for both Bottas and Perez. The pair knows that Cadillac will most probably be their last hoorah in the sport.
Here’s what the F1 drivers said –
Max Verstappen: “Yeah. I mean, when I saw the news come out, I sent a message to him. I’m, of course, very happy for him that he got a seat. He’s a great guy, and we always got along very well. So, yeah, I’m happy to see him back on the grid. How he’s going to perform will also depend on how good the car is going to be. It’s a bit difficult to say at the moment, but it’s a new opportunity and I’m sure he’s very excited for it. He has driven for a lot of different teams, so he knows a lot about how teams work. Every single team works a little differently. That’s already a very interesting trait – it’s nice to understand what people are good at or where some teams are worse. That’s how it goes. Also, the behaviour of cars – he’s been in a lot of different regulations, a lot of different rule sets – some things were allowed, some were not, got banned, things like that.
“So, yeah, to have that general understanding of how a great car is, how a car is that’s not fantastic – I think it’s very valuable for them to start with. He has worked with many big teams, so hopefully that will push them forward in the beginning, because it’s never easy to jump into Formula One and be competitive straight away. But we’ll see how that goes. I mean, it’s a fresh start now. I think it’s not about one half of a season – that doesn’t define what you can do. I think he’s also quite easy in that. Some people maybe dwell on it a bit more, but for Checo, it’s a new start. You’re excited – new cars, completely new cars also. He has shown a lot of great things, even before he got to Red Bull, and during the Red Bull times. So just go in there, enjoy it again, and have a good time.”
Alexander Albon: “I would say one of the benefits of my year – and I think also to Checo’s and Valtteri’s – is the regulation reset. You don’t have the drivers carrying all the experience from the last few years of the car’s regulations, so it’s a bit more of a level playing field once you return. I don’t know how involved they were in terms of keeping sharp – training, driving, and so on. I remember during my year, I was doing some Pirelli tests and a lot of simulator work, which definitely helped. I think we’re in slightly different positions because they have a lot more experience and can probably get away with not doing as much. My year was a bit more about learning and making sure I was as prepared as possible for my Williams seat. I don’t think with their experience they’ll have missed out too much – they’ll fall back into the swing of things pretty quickly.”
George Russell: “I am very happy for Valtteri, he certainly deserves to be back on the grid, I flew with him in Netherlands, I said ‘congratulations’.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: “First of all, I am really happy that he’s able to find a seat for next year, so he is going to be back on the grid and for sure, you are going to miss him because he’s been very supportive. He’s going to be still part of the team until the end of the season, so that’s good. Of course, it is a bit sad but I am super happy for him and he full deserves.”
Pierre Gasly: “I think it’s amazing for the sport. They are two great characters of our sport over the last 10 years or so. They been fighting at the front of the grid, they have been working with top teams in winning, so I think it is a great addition. It was kind of sad to see them go last year, this year we have a lot of amazing young drivers coming, I mean you need space for it but I think adding another two cars to the grid with probably two drivers makes the most sense to be joining, so ready to fight with. The best for the sport is best drivers on the grid regardless…experience is based on your skills, so just want the 20 best drivers, fastest drivers, on the grid and to be fair these rookies deserves to be in the top teams.”
Nico Hulkenberg: “I think it’s slightly different, I obviously had quite a lot of time out. Three years instead of one. It all depends how competitive their package will be also – it’s all linked to that. But I think it was probably positive and refreshing for him to disconnect and to watch it all with some good distance from the comfort of your couch at home. It’s quite an interesting experience. So, I’m sure it was good for him and that he feels…well, I know that he feels charged and still ready to go and give [his all]. It’s very personal and everyone is different. But, for me personally, it was very positive and refreshing. I had almost three proper years away, which is a long time. But it’s what I needed at the time. I can only talk for myself, it was very positive, in hindsight.”
Esteban Ocon: “Yeah, good, familiar faces. They are drivers that I have racing with for all my career, pretty much. Great to see Checo back, obviously I was teaming up with him for two years, great to see him back on the grid and Valtteri, I think both deserve to be back. It is not easy [to get back]. I think with such level of experience, it shouldn’t take them too long to get back up to speed – they’ve had hundreds of races. They know how a team works. They know how Formula 1 works. And also we’re going to have much more testing before we get back to racing with a new era of cars. So everybody’s going to learn. And that’s going to be easier for the guys coming back than normal. If you just take the train while it’s still moving.”
Lewis Hamilton: “I’m really happy for Valtteri, he’s a good friend. He really deserves to be back. I know he’s got plenty of experience that he’ll be able to bring to a new team.”
Carlos Sainz: “I am looking forward to seeing him [Checo], giving him a good hug and welcome back to the track because I feel like Checo…I had a feeling that he was always going to come back, given that the way he lef. It was good to see the announcement.”2025
Franco Colapinto: “I love Checo and he is the driver I have always been cheering for when I was very young, he was the one very closest to Argentina – Mexico and Argentina are very close to each other. It is just great to see him back in the sport, back in Formula 1, we missed him a lot. Yeah, very happy for him, to be back in F1 and see him, it is going to be great, yeah, can’t wait for next year.”
Liam Lawson: “It is good to have, obviously, two more cars on the grid next year and to have two guys that aren’t racing this year are on the grid next year. It is exciting for the sport to have a new team in as well, so should be more good racing. Obviously, we don’t know what the cars will be like next year, there’s lot of speculation and for us, we are excited to try them out but yeah, it is exciting.”
Fernando Alonso: “It is difficult to say. We are all friends and we know each other. All of them, they deserve Formula 1 seat. They prove it and they have the talent and unfortunately as always in Formula 1, there is only 22 seats, there is a moment that someone will be out. And he [Drugovich] deserves to have a go. But I take the positives from the news, having Checo and Valtteri is a good for the sport, is a good news for them, happy for them. As usual, when there is this kind of news, someone is renewing the contract, then you think the test drivers or so, not having a chance but it is same with upgrades, it is not a academy or charity thing. Here only the best [will get in].”
Gabriel Bortoleto: “Look, I think it’s a big company. They have their goals and a lot of people deciding these types of things. It’s not up to me to judge anyone’s decision. Obviously, Felipe is a great friend of mine, and I really feel like he deserved a chance to be in Formula One. It’s not over yet – maybe one day he gets his shot. He’s a Formula 2 champion, so I believe everyone that wins F2 should have a chance in Formula One. Felipe is a great guy, and I feel like he deserved it. But again, it’s a big company – they have their reasons to decide things, and things like this happen. So, yeah, that’s my point of view.”
Oliver Bearman: “Yeah. I mean, largely agree. The first thing is, from their point of view, it makes sense to go with two guys who are known quantities within the sport. Taking a rookie is, of course, a bigger risk than taking two guys with a lot of experience. But I do think there are a lot of people not on this grid who have a huge amount of talent and should have the opportunity to show what they can do. Felipe is one of them. At the top of every category, there are a lot of great IndyCar drivers who would do a good job here. But that decision makes sense. I mean, if I was at the top of an F1 team starting out from nothing, I would do the same, I think.”
Here’s news on Cadillac F1 drivers
Here’s Valtteri Bottas having to serve penalty on F1 return
