The gorgeous demotion of Liam Lawson from a seat at Crimson Bull alongside Max Verstappen to a return to Visa Money App Racing Bull despatched shockwaves by System 1. The transfer additionally opened the door to a promotion for Yuki Tsunoda to Crimson Bull, and the veteran driver will understand his longtime dream of driving for the senior staff at his house race, the Japanese Grand Prix, this weekend.
Has one other door opened as properly? One which sees Sergio Pérez return to the grid?
In response to a new report from The Occasions, the veteran driver is in “superior talks” to make a return to F1 with the brand new Cadillac staff, that can change into the eleventh staff on the grid in 2026. As said in The Occasions Pérez “may return as Cadillac discover their driver choices, bringing his vital expertise to the brand new American constructor. Monetary particulars should be ironed out and a contract isn’t but signed, however sources recommend talks are progressing properly and Pérez could be open to becoming a member of if the precise phrases could be agreed.”
The report comes days after Pérez sat down with Lawrence Barretto on the official F1 channel, and the 2 mentioned a possible return to the grid after his departure from Crimson Bull. As said by the motive force, the precise mission could be very “enticing” to him.
“If I discover a mission that motivates me absolutely to come back again, the place the staff consider in me and recognize my profession, my expertise and all the pieces I can deliver to a staff, it could be very enticing,” mentioned Pérez to the official F1 channel.
“That’s why I’ve given myself at the least six months to get all my choices on the desk and decide on what I do subsequent with my profession.
“There are just a few very fascinating tasks on the market. I’ve been approached by just a few groups since Abu Dhabi. Proper now, the season has began so just a few issues will open up within the coming months.”
Pérez additionally indicated to Barretto that he has been in talks with a “few events” a few return to the grid, however once more careworn the necessity to discover a mission that he can “take pleasure in” if he returns to the game.
“We’re speaking to some events on the market. As soon as I do know all my choices, I’ll decide. What may be very clear to me is that I’m solely coming again if the mission is smart, and it’s one thing I can take pleasure in,” mentioned Pérez.
“I’ve spent a very long time in F1 already, I’ve carried out most of it. When you step again, you realise how a lot you hand over in life to be within the sport. So, to be in F1 absolutely dedicated, I would like the motivation.”
Pérez then spoke of the curiosity in him as a driver, one thing that’s coming into focus given the present state of affairs at Crimson Bull.
“It’s good to be on this place figuring out that persons are eager on you as a drive. Folks have brief reminiscences in F1,” added the Mexican driver.
“Inside a few races, they overlook what you could have carried out. Folks realise that my place was not the best one in F1 – and I’ve carried out extraordinarily properly general.”
To that time, Lawson’s demotion and Crimson Bull’s struggles with the RB21 have raised the problem of whether or not Pérez’s personal struggles final season — after a third-place end on the 2024 Chinese language Grand Prix Pérez didn’t see the podium for the remainder of the season — had been extra a perform of the motive force, or the equipment.
Talking with Sky Sports activities F1 forward of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner mentioned the difficulty the staff has endured with the RB21. “We’ve bought work to do with the automobile,” Horner mentioned. “We have to enhance the automobile. We have to draw on the expertise that Yuki has.”
The staff’s struggles with the RB21 put Pérez’s efficiency down the stretch in 2024 in a very new gentle, and this context might solely assist his case for a return to the grid.
Whether or not such a return occurs, and with Cadillac, stays to be seen.
