The 35-year-old Mexican, who was dropped by Red Bull at the end of a turbulent 2024 campaign despite having two years left on his contract, will spearhead the debut of the American manufacturer alongside former Mercedes star Valtteri Bottas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMy main target is to enjoy it (again),\u201d Perez told reporters during a video call with Bottas on Tuesday. \u201cI want to get back to the enjoyment, and this project just brings me that excitement back. I couldn\u2019t afford to leave the way I left the sport, you know, and this is why I\u2019m coming back with this new project.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Perez endured a difficult final season at Red Bull, finishing 285 points behind four-time world champion teammate Max Verstappen. He also became the only driver among the top four teams to end the season winless.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Red Bull, meanwhile, has continued to struggle in his absence, with Verstappen scoring 187 of the team\u2019s 194 points across 14 races as the team cycled through two more teammates and parted ways with long-time boss Christian Horner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you see the amount of points they\u2019ve scored (his replacements)\u2026 I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve got anything to prove in that regard,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bottas, a 10-time race winner and former title runner-up to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, emphasised that there would be no internal rivalry between the pair.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to work together. We don\u2019t need to prove anything to each other,\u201d Bottas said. \u201cI have respect for Checo, I know he\u2019s got respect for me, so we are in this together and really trying to guide the team forward and give everything to the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Finn revealed that talks with Cadillac principal Graeme Lowdon had been ongoing for nearly two years and acknowledged the enormity of the challenge ahead for the sport\u2019s newcomers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to work together. We don\u2019t need to prove anything to each other,\u201d Bottas said. \u201cI have respect for Checo, I know he\u2019s got respect for me, so we are in this together and really trying to guide the team forward and give everything to the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cadillac, backed by General Motors and billionaire Mark Walter\u2019s TWG Global, will join as Formula One\u2019s 11th team on the grid from 2026, with operations split between Indianapolis, North Carolina, and Silverstone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n