Cadillac board member and former Formula 1 champion Mario Andretti has broken his silence regarding the team’s 2026 driver line-up.

With the 2026 season just months away, all eyes are on the 11th team on the grid for the upcoming season: Cadillac.

The General Motors-backed project will begin life on the grid as a Ferrari customer team, with the understanding that it will start producing its own engines from 2028 onwards.

And while the team has already sorted out stuff on the chassis and powertrain side, it is yet to announce arguably the most important piece of the puzzle: its driver line-up.

The likes of Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, and Mick Schumacher had all been in the running, as per reports.

That said, earlier this week, it seems that the duo of Bottas and Perez have agreed a deal, at least in principle, to race for the American outfit.

Andretti breaks silence on Cadillac reports

Andretti has been keen to get back into the sport, this time in an owner role.

His bid to introduce the Andretti brand into the paddock failed, but he has clawed his way back onto the grid with Cadillac.

The 1978 F1 World Champion was signed up by Cadillac as an advisor and board member.

And despite all the signals pointing towards the duo of Perez and Bottas to kick off Cadillac’s venture, the 85-year-old urged fans to only believe what the team officially puts out.

While speaking to German publication BILD, Andretti kept his cards close to his chest as he did not divulge any expected date or time period for the team’s driver announcement.

“Just believe what we communicate,” he said.

Perez’s former boss, Otmar Szafnauer, is confident that Cadillac has rightly placed its faith in experience over youth as the team begins life at the pinnacle of single-seaters.

“If he [Perez] finds the right environment, with all of his experience at both smaller teams with less budget [than] Red Bull, he definitely has something to offer,” he told PlanetF1.

“Especially perhaps, a new team coming in that needs an experienced driver for the first couple of years, Checo would be a good addition.”

READ MORE – Why Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez is the sensible debut F1 driver line-up for Cadillac

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With the likelihood that Cadillac will now be signing two of Formula 1‘s most experienced out-of-work drivers, the team might just have placed itself in the best possible place for 2026.

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez can boast 527 Grand Prix starts between them, along with 16 race wins, and such know-how of their way around an F1 car will be invaluable.

F1 is preparing to enter the unknown next year, with the FIA’s new set of regulations threatening to shake the sport up as much as it ever has been. That, in effect, gives Cadillac the advantage of a blank slate, plus the benefit of the most amount of aerodynamic testing as per F1’s rules.

But the nascent squad’s necessity to have some expertise behind the wheel will be all-important if it is to get itself a foothold on the F1 ladder.

Perhaps more so with Bottas, as he will perhaps possess more prior knowledge of the new technical regulations via his current role as Mercedes’ reserve driver.

With teams already enabling drivers to perform simulator runs on early incarnations of the ’26 cars, Bottas may well have placed his mulleted head beneath the Halo, so to speak.

The Finn has already indicated, since being out of full-time racing since losing his Sauber drive last year, that he is ready and willing to race again.

And it’s not just what skill he can bring to the table; it is also the fact that his humorous profile and willingness to make himself the butt of it will bring added marketing clout to the team.

For Perez, it will be a mission to prove himself still worthy of an F1 seat after his unceremonious dismissal from Red Bull at the end of last year.

With Liam Lawson losing the drive that he took from Perez after two races, and with Yuki Tsunoda continuing to struggle, he will surely never be more motivated to prove to the outside world that he was never the problem in that second seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

And being Mexican, Perez is naturally the closest the team has to an American driver. That sort of profile will also give the team the ability to potentially find a new wave of fans across the Americas, something that F1’s other American squad, Haas, has continuously failed to find.

The hurdle of securing an American driver would always prove to be tricky anyway, with the likes of IndyCar’s Colton Herta needing to find the necessary Super Licence points.

Jak Crawford was perhaps the only realistic option, but it seems that Cadillac appeared less interested in finding a compatriot to fill a seat and instead found the right men to be on the right platform towards success in the future. With Bottas and Perez, it is set to accomplish that.

Both drivers were given an equal chance to become World Champions in their prime: Bottas spent five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, while Perez was Verstappen’s team-mate at Red Bull between 2021 and 2024. The pair had title-winning equipment at their disposal during those periods; the problem was, they had generational drivers in the opposite garage.

Bottas harboured the pace over a single lap to rival Hamilton on numerous occasions, but he didn’t possess the all-round skillset to translate that into more victories to mount a sustained title bid throughout his spell with the Silver Arrows. Likewise, Perez never posed a serious internal threat to Verstappen, although it was his raw speed that ultimately undermined his endeavours.

But as a new entrant with a steep learning curve, Cadillac will not be calling on either driver to go out and win races against the very best competitors on the grid. Instead, the American marque will be reliant on the two individuals in the cockpit to assist with the team’s development and to capitalise on points-scoring opportunities that arise in a tightly contested midfield battle.

In that regard, Bottas and Perez are the ideal candidates. Bottas starred at Williams to earn his eventual switch to Mercedes as the successor to the then-reigning champion, Nico Rosberg, while he also did a sterling job when Sauber was a competitive entity upon his arrival in 2022.

Meanwhile, Perez was long renowned as a midfield specialist prior to his Red Bull stint, scoring three podiums in a Sauber in a breakout campaign in 2012 – landing him what transpired to be an ill-fated move to McLaren – and several more top three finishes with the Silverstone-based squad before it morphed into Aston Martin, including a coveted maiden win in Bahrain in 2020.

Haas was the last new team to be granted a place on the grid, and it immediately showed how valuable having a driver with extensive experience in the sport can be when starting out. Romain Grosjean produced a memorable shock when he drove his Haas VF-16 to sixth place on the American outfit’s debut in Australia and then went one better at the next race in Bahrain. Haas would be unable to maintain that level of competitiveness throughout the team’s inaugural campaign, but Grosjean’s exploits had been enough to help it finish eighth, above Renault.

Now, to expect Cadillac to replicate Haas’ debut heroics is not realistic. The team has been candid about the inevitable tribulations that it is poised to endure. However, in Bottas and Perez, Cadillac will have two drivers who are guaranteed to make that transition much more seamless.

READ MORE – The key storylines to follow for the rest of the 2025 F1 season

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Cadillac has made its first driver signing for the team’s debut Formula 1 season next year in the shape of Finnish veteran Valtteri Bottas, according to reports.

Motorsport Week has previously reported that Bottas was appearing to be firmly placed with the rookie team, amid sightings of the Finn and Team Principal Graeme Lowdon together in close conversation at May’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The signing would put to bed recurring speculation about a potential union between both parties, which culminated in a comical social media post from Bottas.

Filmed walking a public street, Bottas stumbled upon a Cadillac SUV, and upon opening the door, proclaimed it to be “a nice seat”.

Further rumours recently have pointed the 35-year-old towards a possible switch to Alpine, which next year becomes a power unit customer of Mercedes, for which Bottas is currently a reserve driver.

But the reports indicate that Bottas could be unveiled as a Cadillac driver as early as next week, when F1 returns from its summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Bottas, who lost his drive at Sauber last year, has made no secret of the fact that he is keen to return to full-time racing.

His previous and current Team Principal, Toto Wolff, has also vocalised his desire to see Bottas racing again, recently telling a Mercedes-produced video to “watch this space”.

It is worth noting that if Bottas will indeed take to the grid aboard a Cadillac at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, he will need to serve a five-place grid penalty, carried over from an incident with Kevin Magnussen at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Who will fill seat number two at Cadillac?

If Bottas’ signature is now drying on a Cadillac contract, then the focus shifts onto who will fill the second seat alongside him.

Prior media reports have stated that another veteran – Sergio Perez – is also poised to be signing for the team.

However, previous speculation has discussed whether Cadillac will opt for a line-up of one experienced driver with a rookie, which would leave Perez out.

Bottas’ last team-mate, Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu, is thought to be on the shortlist, and brings two particular plus points.

Guanyu is already au fait with Lowdon, having been managed by the Brit’s Equals Management company.

He is also currently contracted to Ferrari as reserve driver, and the Italian marque will be providing the team with engines until it is able to build its own in-house.

Mick Schumacher is also under consideration, with the former Haas driver having been seen in discussion with Cadillac representatives at several Grands Prix this year.

Felipe Drugovich might also be a prospect, the Brazilian having played a dutiful role at Aston Martin for the last three years.

Fernando Alonso recently backed him for a race seat, and has recently seen his stock rise after an impressive points-scoring finish in a Formula E one-off for Mahindra Racing.

There is little doubt, however, that the team would ideally like to field an American driver, and the most logical is currently Formula 2 star Jak Crawford.

Another Aston protege, Crawford has also got indirect ties to the team via Formula E, having been a reserve driver for Andretti, which is, like Cadillac, owned by the TWG organisation.

READ MORE – The FIA reveals how it intends to avoid ‘unnatural things’ by tweaking 2026 F1 rules

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Ralf Schumacher says Gene Haas does not need to sell his Formula 1 team and could instead take inspiration from Red Bull with Cadillac‘s impending entry in 2026.

The Kannapolis-based squad has been the perennial underdog of the sport ever since its debut on the grid in 2016.

And while Haas has been able to stay afloat despite its meagre budget, when compared to some of the other teams alongside it, with F1’s skyrocketing appeal, sharks may have already started circling the 72-year-old to take the team off his hands.

Haas boss Ayao Komatsu recently revealed that the team has been thwarting takeover attempts as Haas has no plans whatsoever to vacate his place in the paddock.

“Honestly, [Gene Haas has] seen lots of changes,” he explained earlier this year. “He’s so engaged now. He understands the details as well.

“What’s the best way to put it? He’s always been very passionate about the sport and the result. He always wants us to improve, which is what we need from the owner. He was always behind us.

“I don’t know everything, but in the last 18 months he’s had numerous offers to buy the team.

“He’s not interested. He really enjoys being the owner of the F1 team. Currently one out of 10, from next year one out of 11. That’s such a privileged position to be in.

“He came in at a time when F1 wasn’t like this. He stuck with us during such a difficult period of COVID. Now he’s enjoying it.”

Haas can find a junior team in Cadillac

The 2026 F1 season will not only feature a completely revamped formula but also an 11th team on the grid with Cadillac.

The General Motors-backed project will begin as a Ferrari customer team – much like Haas is now – and evolve into a factory works outfit by 2028.

Haas might not be interested in selling his team, but is he impeding its success?

Schumacher doesn’t believe so and rather suggests that Haas could look to the Milton Keynes-based squad for inspiration and enlist Cadillac as its B-team.

“I would look for a partner – as a junior team, like Racing Bulls for Red Bull,” he told BILD.

“Maybe Cadillac would be an option when they enter Formula 1 next year.

“All teams now have the problem that they hardly dare to bring in young drivers – the idea of a junior team could be the solution.”

READ MORE – Oscar Piastri insists 2026 F1 regulations require fine-tuning to produce ‘the best show’

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has hinted that Valtteri Bottas could be set for a full-time return to Formula 1, amid ongoing speculation regarding a move to Cadillac.

The Finnish veteran has been without a race seat in 2025, after losing his drive with Sauber at the end of last year.

Bottas returned to the German marque as its reserve driver, having spent five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton between 2017 and 2022.

Ongoing speculation has pointed towards a move to Cadillac, as the American marque shapes up for its debut campaign next year.

A recent social media post exacerbated those rumours, in which he jokingly approached a Cadillac SUV, proclaiming it to be a “nice seat” when touching the interior.

Back in June, it was reported that Bottas was top of its wishlist of drivers, with Motorsport Week revealing that he was seen in deep conversation with Team Principal Graeme Lowdon.

Additional rumours have since suggested Bottas may be set for a switch to Alpine instead, with the Enstone-based squad becoming a Mercedes powertrain customer from next year.

Bottas also touted his availability to teams in June, speaking of his desire to be racing again on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast.

But regardless of destination, it seems that the 10-time Grand Prix winner is close to finding himself back on the grid once again.

In a Mercedes debrief video, Wolff seemed to drop the biggest hint yet that Bottas is close to making a return, something he appeared to give his full blessing.

“Obviously, Valtteri has been part of the Mercedes family for a long, long time,” he said.

“He is a driver where, if some of our drivers had fish poisoning, you put him in the car and he’s going to be absolutely on pace.

“That’s great to know, that your reserve and third driver is as quick as it gets.

“Obviously, with Valtteri, he deserves a race seat.

“Hopefully, that door is going to open. Watch this space.”

READ MORE – Red Bull accuses Toto Wolff of ‘stirring up’ Max Verstappen to Mercedes rumours

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Aston Martin junior driver and Formula 2 title contender Jak Crawford is in talks with Cadillac about one of its two seats for its maiden Formula 1 season next year.

The American is in his second year with the Silverstone-based squad, having joined in early 2024 after being released by Red Bull’s junior programme after four years.

Crawford is currently in the thick of the action in F2, sitting third in the Drivers’ standings for DAMS Lucas Oil, just nine points off the lead, having taken three wins so far this year.

It is the 20-year-old’s third year in the premier feeder series, and is aware that taking the title would be a huge chance for him to secure a coveted seat in F1.

“It depends a lot on what I do in Formula 2 this year,” he told Motorsport.com. “If I can win the championship, it would be great for my career.

” It could lead to many opportunities, whether [that’s] with a seat on the grid or potentially again reserve driver next year in Formula 1. 

“We’re trying to find any space on the grid, whether it’s with Cadillac or Aston Martin or some other teams.”

Could Crawford hold the passport for Cadillac vacancy?

The competition for the coveted two seats at Cadillac are said to be strong, with veterans such as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez hotly tipped to take one of them.

But a number of young drivers have also been considered, with Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu also touted.

However, Crawford may hold an edge given his nationality, as the team would no doubt favour an American driver if the opportunity was right.

Crawford confirmed there were talks, but things were in early stages.

“There have been talks, I’ve been talking, but it’s very slow at the moment,” he said. “From my side, I just need to do a good job in Formula 2.” 

“There’s nothing I can do to compete. Actually, the only thing I can do is do well in F2. Other than that, I can’t really do anything else.” 

READ MORE – Audi unveils major title sponsor ahead of maiden F1 season

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Mick Schumacher’s prospects of being signed by the Cadillac Formula 1 team have received an endorsement from an unlikely source: Guenther Steiner.

The German has been out of F1 since being fired by Steiner at Haas at the end of 2022, copping some public criticism from the charismatic Italian in the process.

Schumacher racked up a hefty damage bill for the American squad in his final campaign, which prompted Steiner to make the decision to replace him.

Since then, Schumacher spent two years at Mercedes as its reserve driver, before going on to compete in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine, a drive he currently holds.

But Steiner, speaking to RTL, backed Schumacher to be a realistic candidate for what will be America’s second team on the grid.

“I think Mick has a good chance,” he assessed.

“Cadillac needs a driver with experience in Formula 1, and there are currently not many drivers who don’t have a job but have already driven Formula 1.”

Steiner added that the experience gained under Toto Wolff’s stewardship would have been a huge benefit.

“When he was a test driver at Mercedes, he didn’t race, but he learned a lot about a good big team,” he said. “This knowledge of how a successful team works could help Cadillac.”

Schumacher and Bottas – the ideal Cadillac pairing?

Valtteri Bottas, the current Mercedes reserve driver, is also hotly-tipped to race for the team, having appeared in a humorous online video taking an interest in a Cadillac SUV.

Steiner intimated a pairing of Schumacher and Bottas could be ideal, saying that both men “learned the same work ethic” at Mercedes.

There is naturally a call for an American driver to take one of the seats with the team, but few possess the necessary Super Licence points to enable them to compete in F1.

“I don’t think they’ll take an American driver because the risk is just too great,” Steiner explained.

“The guys have no experience in Formula 1 and then it can quickly backfire. That doesn’t help anyone.

“Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. All of them have experience in Formula 1. With Mick Schumacher, these are my four favourites.”

READ MORE – Honda wouldn’t block Yuki Tsunoda moving to Haas despite Toyota F1 alliance

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Mick Schumacher has confirmed that talks with the prospective Cadillac Formula 1 entry are progressing well, describing the ongoing discussions as “very positive”.

The German driver, who has been out of a full-time seat since the end of 2022, is understood to be among several candidates under consideration for a potential seat.

Schumacher made his debut in the sport over four years ago with another American outfit in Haas, but was dropped after just two seasons.

He then served as a reserve driver for both Mercedes and McLaren, a position he departed last year.

To maintain his competitive edge, Schumacher transitioned to endurance racing with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship and is now in his second campaign.

Cadillac, backed by General Motors and operating under TWG Motorsports, will join F1 as the sport’s 11th team in 2026, marking the first new constructor since Haas in 2016.

The team will initially run Ferrari power units before developing its own Cadillac-branded engine, aiming to establish a strong American presence in the sport.

Several names have been suggested to lead the driver line-up, including experienced racers like Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, and Daniel Ricciardo, promising young talents such as Alex Dunne and Felipe Drugovich, as well as American prospects like Colton Herta and Jak Crawford.

Among these candidates, Schumacher has recently revealed that he is actively engaged in negotiations with the team.

“Yes, of course, discussions are ongoing,” he told the Brazilian edition of Motorsport.com.

“The communication has been very positive so far and they’ve already hired a fantastic number of people for it.

“It’s an honour to be part of it, to negotiate with them, and a great position to be in.”

Lowdon on driver motivations and Ricciardo return rumours

Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon – who was appointed in late 2024 to lead the new F1 project – addressed the ongoing driver negotiations and shared his perspective on the motivations of seasoned drivers like Schumacher and Bottas.

“Everyone wants to prove something else again,” Lowdon explained. “I never look at that as the biggest motivator.

“Our team is not there as a vehicle for someone to prove a point. Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, if you like.

“For someone to prove what they can do for sure, but it’s not the vehicle to show the world, prove a point or whatever.

“The driver is there to do the best that they possibly can for their team, and they should be motivated for the team around them as well.

“So, I’m less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point.”

The former CEO of the Marussia F1 team recently dismissed rumours that the team is considering luring Ricciardo into a return to the sport following his departure last season.

READ MORE – Building the Cadillac Formula 1 Team

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Cadillac’s Formula 1 project represents something unprecedented in modern motorsport: a genuine American works team with facilities spanning two continents, a NASA-inspired management structure, and a timeline that would make even the most seasoned F1 veterans sweat.

The numbers alone tell the story of Cadillac’s ambition.

From a team that started with just three people in weekly meetings, they’ve grown to nearly 400 full-time staff across six buildings at Silverstone, with plans to reach 600 by Melbourne. That’s already larger than Haas and approaching the size of established midfield teams.

Unlike traditional F1 operations, Cadillac’s structure is deliberately global in nature. Their Silverstone facility handles European logistics and aerodynamic development, while the primary headquarters in Fishers, Indianapolis, will eventually house most production capabilities. A third facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, is being constructed specifically to support General Motors’ ambitious plan to develop its own Formula 1 power unit by 2029.

The Apollo Program Management Model

Team principal Graeme Lowdon’s confidence isn’t unfounded.

Cadillac has been working on its 2026 car since mid-2023, initially as a 2025 project before the regulations shifted. Technical director Nick Chester, who brings championship experience from Benetton, Renault, and Lotus, has overseen the development of several prototype monocoques that have already passed FIA crash tests.

The team has accumulated over five petabytes of CFD data using Toyota’s Cologne wind tunnel facility—the same one recently vacated by McLaren. While this early start provided advantages, Cadillac faced unique challenges, including the need to create its own wind tunnel tires, as Pirelli only supplies tires to approved teams.

Perhaps most intriguingly, Lowdon has structured Cadillac’s management around NASA’s Apollo program—the same organizational framework that enabled humans to land on the moon. This “flat management structure” divides the team into 12 different offices to ensure seamless communication across their global operation.

“There are few things more difficult than sticking a man on the moon,” Lowdon explained, noting that while “going racing is different from moon landings,” both require managing highly technical challenges with absolute deadlines. The approach emphasizes peer-to-peer interaction, with engineers communicating directly with engineers and specialists exchanging information across departments without traditional hierarchical barriers.

The Driver Market Dynamics

The team’s original plan for an American driver appears to have faded. Colton Herta lacks the superlicense points necessary for F1, while other American candidates don’t possess the experience level Cadillac seeks. Team management has been clear that they prefer proven F1 veterans who can help establish the team’s competitive foundation.

Cadillac’s driver situation reflects its unique position in the market. Unlike established teams fighting for available talent, they have the luxury of time and choice. Reports suggest they’re close to agreements with both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, either of whom would bring substantial experience to the new team.

The Financial Reality

Operating under F1’s budget cap presents unique challenges for a startup team. While established teams can leverage existing infrastructure and knowledge, Cadillac must build everything from scratch within the $215 million cap that takes effect in 2026. The increased cap—a 30% jump from current levels—reflects the technical complexity of the new regulations and the arrival of major manufacturers like Audi and GM.

The team has already paid a $450 million anti-dilution fee to existing F1 teams, although some team bosses, like Toto Wolff, argue that this amount is still too low given the revenue impact of adding an 11th team.

Cadillac’s “race-ready program” demonstrates its commitment to being prepared from day one. Their complete simulation of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend—including seat fittings, strategy meetings, and even notional driver media interviews—shows the level of detail they’re applying to their preparation.

The team has even voluntarily honored F1’s mandatory shutdown periods, using them to familiarize itself with the sport’s operational rhythms. This attention to process reflects their understanding that F1 success depends as much on operational excellence as technical innovation.

What’s Next

With the aerodynamic package due to be signed off in November and preseason testing set to begin in January 2026, Cadillac faces a compressed timeline that would challenge any organization. However, their early start on car development and systematic approach to team building suggest they’re better positioned than typical F1 startups.

The real test won’t be whether they can make the grid—that seems assured—but whether they can avoid the traditional fate of new teams finishing last. With experienced leadership, substantial backing from General Motors, and a methodical approach to preparation, Cadillac represents the most credible F1 startup since Haas in 2016.

Their success could reshape how new teams enter Formula 1, proving that with sufficient resources and planning, the traditional years-long development curve can be compressed. For American motorsport, it represents something even more significant: the first genuine shot at F1 success since the sport’s global expansion began in earnest.

The countdown clock in every Cadillac facility shows xxx days until Melbourne. For the first time in decades, an American F1 dream has moved from aspiration to inevitability.

READ MORE – Has F1’s American Growth Peaked?

READ MORE – Verstappen endorsed Checo for Cadillac F1 seat

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Sergio Perez has received a glowing endorsement for one of the two seats at Cadillac’s Formula 1 team next year from former Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.

The Mexican has been out of a drive since being ousted by Red Bull at the end of last season, losing his drive in favour of Liam Lawson.

Perez has largely kept out of the spotlight since his removal from the Milton Keynes-based squad, but his name has continued to surface as the driver market hots up.

Cadillac has been cited as a potential destination for Perez, as the American marque prepares to make its F1 debut.

Cadillac boss Graeme Lowdon has indicated there is no rush for the team to seal a deal, but speculation has been rife that Valtteri Bottas is a strong contender.

But the Finn has also been heavily linked to a drive with Alpine next year, further boosting Perez’s chances, and Verstappen’s backing may further help his cause.

“Checo has always been very strong,” Verstappen said ahead of the British Grand Prix.

“Of course, he had some difficult moments with us, but as long as he has the motivation to race, I think he is a very good choice, especially for a new team.

“If you look at his performances at Force India and Racing Point, you will see that he always scored good points there.”

Sauber boss backs Perez to shine at Cadillac

It isn’t just Verstappen who is singing Perez’s praises, as former Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley also backed him to do well with Cadillac if a deal is done.

Now Sauber Team Principal, Wheatley had first-hand experience of Perez and spoke highly of his ability to perform.

“Firstly, I really enjoyed working with Checo. He’s a great personality, great attitude to life, full stop,” Wheatley said in an interview with F1’s official website.

“I have no doubt about his pace and his speed. It’s been natural since the beginning.

“He put in some tremendous drives at my former team and I don’t think it’s much of a barrier that he’s had a bit of time off between driving a Formula 1 car because when you know how to do that, you know how to do it.”

Wheatley also revealed that Perez was hands-on towards Wheatley in his own position with the team, ensuring he was performing to the best of his capabilities.

“I spent a lot of time with him early on because I wanted to get to know him and I wanted him to adjust to the team,” he continued.

“What I really liked was he pushed me in my sporting role – pushed me very, very hard.

“He made me question whether I was putting every bit of effort in, not that he was criticising but he would challenge you in a positive way and I enjoyed it.

“I think it helped motivate me to become better at my job and I’d like to think maybe it was reciprocal and the work that we did together made him better at his.”

He added: “He’s fully focused on performance and what do you want from a driver?”

READ MORE – Sergio Perez claims lack of protection cost him Red Bull F1 seat

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