Overview

• Multiple outlets including ESPN, The Race and Autosport report Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas are set to form Cadillac’s 2026 lineup, with announcements expected this week and contracts not yet publicly finalized.
• The FIA confirmed Bottas must serve a five‑place grid penalty from Abu Dhabi 2022 on his F1 return, as the 2026 time‑limit change for grid drops will not apply retroactively; Jenson Button and Robert Shwartzman also retain pending penalties.
• Cadillac was approved in March as the 11th F1 team and will start with Ferrari power units before introducing a General Motors engine targeted around 2028, operating initially from Silverstone with U.S. hubs in Indiana and Charlotte.
• FIA formalsport chief Nikolas Tombazis said 2026 cars will raise driver workload but the rules will balance automation and driver control to avoid overburdening drivers.
• Teams are positioning for the reset, with Charles Leclerc urging Ferrari to nail the 2026 launch, Haas’s Ayao Komatsu warning big squads will benefit most, and a reported Red Bull inquiry to IndyCar champion Alex Palou promptly denied.