Perez reveals biggest ambition at Cadillac: More than personal success

On Wednesday, ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Cadillac announced that Perez would continue racing for the American outfit in the coming years. The team made its Formula 1 debut this season and is relying on the six-time Grand Prix winner's experience as it continues to develop. Perez is also heavily involved in Cadillac's development away from the track.

The Mexican emphasises that his extensive experience with different Formula 1 teams helps him identify where Cadillac needs to improve. He is not only involved in developing the car but also points out areas within the organisation where he believes progress is needed.

"I think the experience has really helped me to overcome a lot of things in terms of where to push the team, how to push it forward and all of that. I think that has helped me a lot to understand which areas I should be working on and which areas I need to push the team on," Perez explains.

With his contract extension until the end of 2029, Perez will remain involved in building Cadillac for at least another three years. The team has already achieved its initial objective of making it onto the grid and competing in a full F1 season. According to Perez, it is now time for the next phase, in which Cadillac must continue to develop.

"I think we are recruiting great talent. We have great talent also at home. I think eventually this team will go forward," the Mexican says. "Don't forget that this team was done just for making it to the grid. But now it's about the next steps. Everything takes time in Formula 1, but I'm really looking forward to the next step with Cadillac."

Perez is closely involved in the team's development behind the scenes. He works with different parts of the organisation and uses his experience to identify where Cadillac needs to improve.

"I'm working a lot. I know that in this place I am much more than a racing driver," he emphasises. "I've been working a lot with the team behind the scenes, with GM, with all the team, with TWG, the owners, really pushing a lot behind the scenes to put the team where it is now and where I want it to be in the next season."

The former Red Bull Racing driver feels he has considerable influence over the direction Cadillac takes. Asked how that compares with his experiences at previous teams, he explains that his feedback is taken seriously. "Well, basically, if I tell a direction, the team is really listening. Here is the first time in my career where I feel like I'm really able to get what I want, to push in the direction I want and push the team in a direction that I'm looking forward to," he explains.

Perez, who will be 39 when his new contract expires, has a clear objective for the coming years. He wants to help Cadillac develop into a team that can continue to succeed after his departure. Asked what he wants to leave behind when he ends his career, Perez immediately points to his current team.

"This project. For me, this project, because I feel like if I'm able to make it successful before I'm done with F1, it will be a great mark, a great career mark. And this is my biggest motivation and my biggest task that I have in my career: to try and leave a mark with Cadillac," says the six-time Grand Prix winner.

For Perez, Cadillac's future success matters even more than another victory of his own. Asked whether he would rather leave behind a team capable of eventually winning world championships than win another F1 race himself, he confirms that. "Yeah, definitely. If we are able to do that as a team, that would be an unbelievable story," says Perez, who is set to make his 300th Grand Prix start in Mexico.