Perez back in F1? This is the current situation for 2026

The most obvious choice for Sergio Perez is the new team Cadillac. The Americans will join Formula 1 in 2026, and will be brand-new team with Ferrari engines, and from 2029, they will have their own power units from General Motors. This project needs an experienced driver to lead the team.

Perez is in the picture for this, as GPblog previously reported. No deal is in place yet, but Perez is on the list. However, he is not the only experienced on on the list; a driver like Valtteri Bottas is also mentioned for the American team.

No deal is in place yet, although Perez's sponsor, Carlos Slim, and the Mexican media are doing everything to make it seem so. Perez was rumored to be announced by Cadillac in Miami, something that ultimately did not happen.

This is the game Perez has been playing for years. His PR team is quite capable of using the media to put pressure on negotiations. If it 'leaks' that he is negotiating with other teams, it also strengthens his position.

Yet, there's a lot to be said for a deal between Perez and Cadillac. The current performances of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda work in favor of Perez, who has shown great things before his period at Red Bull Racing with midfield teams like Force India and Sauber. That's exactly what Cadillac need.

Moreover, the millions from Carlos Slim are welcome at Cadillac. Also, the fans Perez brings from Latin America are of course very interesting for the team. It seems like a simple move, but Perez could have multiple options.

The second team associated with Perez is Alpine. The team informed GPblog that the reports are mainly speculation. A conversation between Alpine and Perez did take place, but at the request of Perez. Alpine do not close the door for Perez, but they far from a potential deal.

After Jack Doohan, Alpine now has Franco Colapinto driving alongside Pierre Gasly, but both have yet to impress. Flavio Briatore has the option to throw in the next reserve driver, Paul Aron, but can also look at more experienced alternatives. In that scenario, Alpine could come into play for Perez.

Alpine are going in a completely new direction for 2026. With Flavio Briatore now fully in charge and Mercedes engines in the back, the team hope to take a step forward on the grid in 2026. This includes having a strong driver line-up. Briatore has already used 2025 primarily as a test to see which drivers are good enough for next year.

The performances of Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson thus play into Perez's hands. Perez was not so bad next to Max Verstappen after all. Moreover, for Alpine too, the flow of money from Carlos Slim is interesting, as is the deal with Franco Colapinto which brings the French team a lot of money and fans from Latin America.

The third option is a return to Formula 1 as a reserve driver. GPblog had previously reported that Perez might work as a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2026. In that case, something would need to happen in the market first.

Mercedes have Valtteri Bottas under contract as their third driver and the Germans do not want to just let him go.

Only if Bottas gets a seat in another Formula 1 team, then Perez is a serious option for Mercedes to replace the Finn. Bottas is also considered at Cadillac and seems to compete with Perez for being the experienced driver of that team.