Sergio Pérez has confirmed that he will not have any influence in the decision regarding who will be his teammate at Cadillac for 2027, despite having signed a new contract that ties him to the team until 2029. The confirmation came coinciding with his participation in the Mexican Grand Prix, where he will also celebrate his 300th race in Formula 1.
The contract of the Mexican star keeps him on the grid, after having been out of competition during the last season due to his departure from Red Bull. In contrast, the future of his current teammate, Valtteri Bottas, is still uncertain. Although the Finnish driver has denied that his position is at risk, the team director, Marcin Budkowski, has not confirmed that the current pairing will continue next season.
In a new development, the American driver Colton Herta will take the wheel during the first practice session in Mexico, replacing Bottas. Herta is looking to accumulate the necessary points to obtain his FIA superlicense and thus be able to compete in Formula 1, after having gone through the lower categories.
Pérez has positively evaluated Herta’s contribution to the team in this inaugural season, highlighting that he offers good feedback and useful information. ‘I think he is doing a good job and brings valuable information to the team, which is what we need,’ he said.
Additionally, he added that the expectation is for Herta to become more familiar with the car and improve his performance in the simulator. However, he made it clear that the decision on who will occupy his seat in 2027 belongs to Budkowski and not to him. ‘I don’t want to interfere in that; it’s not my decision. The director will look at all the data and make the best choice for the future of the team,’ Pérez assured.
Finally, regarding his responsibilities within the team, Pérez stated that he feels an additional motivation to assist a new entrant to Formula 1 and that his role goes beyond just driving fast. The coming months will be crucial for Cadillac’s preparation.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
