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Perez on Cadillac’s 2026 Debut: “One of My Best Years”
123Helmets Editorial Team
Sergio Perez says his Cadillac debut season is “without a doubt one of my best years”, even though the team has not scored a point in 2026. The Mexican spoke in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, arguing that the results table hides the level he has maintained at the wheel.
Key Takeaways
Cadillac has not scored a point in 2026, and six races remain according to the source.
Perez came close to points at Monaco, taking the MAC-10 up to tenth before a penalty.
He had scored in every season from his 2011 Sauber debut to his 2024 Red Bull campaign.
Perez says the performance he has delivered matters more than the final standings.
Perez rejects the idea of a worst season
Sergio Perez does not consider 2026 his worst season, despite the numbers. Asked directly by Motorsport.com, he answered: “No, not at all.”
He accepted that the results are poor, but argued that people who understand the sport can see the level he is driving at. The source notes that on paper the campaign could be classed as disastrous, because Cadillac has yet to score a point.
A pointless season on paper
Cadillac has not scored a point in 2026, and Perez’s streak of scoring every season has been broken. He had scored points in each year he competed, from his debut with Sauber in 2011 to his final campaign with Red Bull in 2024.
With six races remaining, the source says that possibility now looks distant. The team’s drivers are Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
The near misses the table does not show
Monaco was the closest Perez came to a point. He took the MAC-10 up to tenth position at the Monaco Grand Prix before suffering a penalty.
The source also points to Baku, where from the very first day he was close to placing in the top 10. In Singapore, he was close to building a lap’s advantage over his teammate Bottas. None of these situations appear in the results table.
Building a team from scratch
Perez has had to lead and build a project from scratch for the first time in his career. The car has undergone various modifications since the first race to resolve reliability issues.
According to the source, he has become the leader of the team, steering development and, when the tools have allowed, competing against the midfield.
Why the car matters
Perez believes Formula 1 depends heavily on the car, and that this limits what a driver can show. “In the end, Formula 1 depends heavily on the car to achieve big things,” he said.
He added that the people who know the sport, including his own team, know the level he is at. For Perez, that judgement matters more than the standings.
“No, not at all.”
— Sergio Perez
“In terms of results, obviously, but I think people who understand the sport can see the level at which I am driving and the level I’ve been maintaining, the performance I’ve delivered, and they can understand the caliber of the year I’ve had.”
— Sergio Perez
“In the end, Formula 1 depends heavily on your car to achieve big things,”
— Sergio Perez
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