Sergio Perez, the 36-year-old F1 veteran, just inked a multi-year contract extension with Cadillac, keeping him with the team until 2029. That’s a massive commitment, especially when you consider where he’s at right now: dead last in the 2026 standings. Yeah, you read that right. The guy Cadillac just committed to for another three years is currently at the bottom of the pile.
Talk About a Head-Scratcher: New Deal, Zero Points
This extension is massive, meaning Perez will be 39 by the time this new deal is up. This weekend, he’s set to celebrate his 300th Grand Prix start at his home race in Mexico City. Joining Cadillac last August before their debut season, Perez and fellow veteran Valtteri Bottas were supposed to be the foundational drivers. But so far? They’ve got nothing to show for it. Neither Perez nor Bottas has earned a single point for Cadillac this season. Perez’s “best” performances this year have been three 14th-place finishes, in Barcelona, Silverstone, and Azerbaijan. That’s it. Those are the high points. It’s tough to see a veteran with such a history struggling this much, and it makes you wonder what Cadillac is truly seeing in this extension.
From Red Bull Glory to Cadillac’s Long Game
Perez made his Formula One debut way back in 2011. He’s got six Grand Prix wins under his belt, five of those came for Red Bull between 2021-2024, and one with Racing Point in 2020. He was even a serious contender, finishing third in the 2022 drivers’ championship and then second in 2023, right behind his then-teammate Max Verstappen. So, the talent is there, the experience is undeniable. But here’s the kicker: Red Bull dropped him at the end of the 2024 season, even with two years left on his contract, because they felt he’d run out of time to prove he could truly support Verstappen. Now, Cadillac is making a huge bet on him despite his current form, and his Red Bull departure history.
Perez sounds fully bought in, saying, “Joining Cadillac from day one was a project I truly believed in, and extending my commitment feels like a natural continuation of this chapter. Building a Formula One team from the ground up takes time, relentless work and patience, but the progress we are making together is incredibly rewarding. There is still a lot of work ahead of us and I am fully committed to the next three years.” It’s clear Cadillac believes in the long haul and Perez’s role in it, even if the results aren’t there right now. This isn’t about immediate wins, it’s about patience and a foundational commitment.
Perez takes to the track this weekend in Mexico City for his 300th Grand Prix. With this new extension now official, all eyes will be on him. Can he turn around Cadillac’s fortunes, or is this a super long bet on a driver past his peak? This weekend is just the next chapter in a very intriguing story.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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