There will be a new face in Formula One next season in Cadillac and they have addressed rumours if they will be spearheaded by a familiar face in the paddock.
The US-based car manufacturer will become the 11th team on the grid in 2026 and unveiled their driver line-up for the forthcoming campaign.
However, they also confirmed whether or not former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner will be part of their plans or not.
The 51-year-old was abruptly fired following the British Grand Prix last month with no reason given for his termination.
The dismissal ended a 20-year stint that included eight F1 drivers’ titles and recent turmoil that followed the team on and off the track.
He has been linked with a return to the sport via Cadillac, but speaking on Tuesday their CEO Dan Towriss ruled out this possibility.
Christian Horner may be waiting by the phone for a new job but it won’t be at Cadillac
He has been linked with a move there but the US-based team are happy with Graeme Lowdon
Horner (pictured with wife and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell in June) was sacked as Red Bull’s team principal after the British Grand Prix last month
There have been no talks with Christian Horner. No plans to do that,’ Towriss said. ‘I’d like to officially shut down that rumour.’
He then praised Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac’s current team principal, stating: ‘Our support backing is 100 per cent in Graeme Lowdon.’
While Horner, won’t be part of Cadillac one of his former Red Bull racers will after it was announced that Sergio Perez will form one half of their driver line-up for 2026.
Perez will be joined by fellow veteran Valtteri Bottas – marking a return of both to the F1 grid.
Perez, a six-time race winner, and Bottas, who took 10 victories for Mercedes, are both 35 and have unfinished business after being dropped by the Red Bull and Sauber teams respectively in 2024.
The announcement was expected, although some younger prospects had been touted.
‘We believe their experience, their leadership and their technical acumen are really what we need,’ Towriss told reporters in a video call.
‘It’s the right combination, the right drivers at the right time, and we’re humbled by their belief in us in this project.’
Two paths. One call of destiny.
The Cadillac Formula 1 Team's future begins with them. pic.twitter.com/4r9g6IsDW1— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) August 26, 2025
Cadillac revealed that Valtteri Bottas (left) and Sergio Perez will be their driver line-up for 2026
Both spent years alongside two of the sport’s greats, Perez with four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull and Bottas as sidekick to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
They also have more than 500 race starts between them, Perez 281 and Bottas 246, and a combined 106 podium appearances.
Towriss said Perez in particular was keen to put ‘in the rearview mirror’ his last season with Red Bull when he suffered a dramatic slump in performance.
‘We had questions, we had scepticism… and he answered all of our questions, passed our tests with flying colours,’ he added.
Bottas, who is a current reserve driver at Mercedes, is chomping at the bit to get started with Cadillac.
‘This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision,’ he said.
‘It’s not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.
‘I’ve had the honor of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.’
