Sergio “Checo” Pérez will be a Cadillac driver, and his signing is expected to be officially announced after the Hungarian Grand Prix, according to reports from F1-specialized media. As reported by Ed Spencer on autoevolution.com, the Mexican driver and the new Formula 1 team have reached a contract agreement for the 2026 season, with Checo set to be the lead driver for the American squad.

"It is understood that Pérez’s deal will be financially lucrative for both parties, and Mexican businessman Carlos Slim is reportedly involved in the agreement," Spencer revealed on Monday.

When will Cadillac announce Checo Pérez?

According to the same report, Checo official presentation is expected to take place during Formula 1’s summer break, following the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"Cadillac is expected to make Pérez signing official in the days after the Hungarian GP in August, which marks the end of the first half of the 2025 F1 season."

Cadillac now focuses on a second driver

With Checo confirmed as the team’s leading figure, Cadillac is now shifting its focus toward selecting a second driver. Team principal Graeme Lowdon stated that the team is entering a new phase of deeper conversations with the remaining candidates.

"Building a lineup isn’t easy. It’s not just about the main drivers we also need reserve and simulator drivers. From now on, we’ll begin much deeper conversations. I want to understand their motivation. Why do they want to race for Cadillac? What can they bring to the team? I want to understand their character," Lowdon explained.

Does Checo Pérez fit Cadillac F1 profile?

Lowdon also spoke about the kind of driver Cadillac is looking for someone capable of extracting every ounce of performance from the car.

"In F1, everything comes down to the stopwatch. You can tolerate a lot if the performance is there, and by performance, I mean seeing green or purple sectors."

"Even though it’s a team sport, every sport needs heroes and in F1, drivers are the heroes. If a driver can get absolutely everything out of the car, then you can overlook other things. People say, ‘He needs to be a good teammate or contribute this or that,’ but their role is incredibly specific: to push the car to its absolute limit," he added.

A possible reunion between Horner and Checo?

The announcement of Christian Horner dismissal from Red Bull sparked a wave of speculation. One key question is whether his exit was due to Max Verstappen move to Mercedes, or if it was a last-ditch effort to prevent the Dutchman from leaving. For now, nothing is confirmed.

At the same time, Horner is on the job market, and a new team like Cadillac could benefit from his experience and proven success to rise to the top. Like Checo, Horner may also be looking for redemption in F1. Still, this scenario remains in the realm of speculation for now.

A refreshed and motivated Checo

The summer break seems to have done wonders for Checo Pérez, who now appears highly motivated to continue writing new chapters of success in his career. After a complicated stint with Red Bull, the Mexican driver is hungry for redemption—and Cadillac is eager to build a fierce duo that can bring them success in the top tier of motorsport.