Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell has made a bold statement, advising the new team Cadillac to seek out Sergio Perez for his invaluable experience in the sport. The racing world is abuzz with rumors of Perez’s potential return to the F1 grid in 2026, with Cadillac and Alpine reportedly expressing interest in the Mexican driver.
Perez, who has been eyeing a comeback to Formula 1, is in a prime position to capitalize on the recent struggles of Red Bull’s second drivers. With negotiations reportedly progressing with Cadillac, Mansell believes Perez’s expertise and track record make him an ideal candidate for a team starting from scratch.
In Mansell’s own words, “Checo deserves another opportunity. He has a lot of experience and drove well last year, helping Max to win the title.” The racing legend emphasized the importance of having seasoned drivers in the inaugural year of a new team, highlighting the need for valuable feedback to ensure competitiveness from the get-go.
With Mansell’s endorsement ringing loud and clear, all eyes are now on Cadillac to see if they will heed the advice of the former champion and secure the services of Sergio Perez for their F1 debut in 2026. The stage is set for a thrilling comeback story in the world of motorsport, with Perez potentially leading the charge for a new era of racing excellence.
STATISTICS
Nigel Ernest James Mansell, CBE (born 8 August 1953) is a British former racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship (1992) and the CART Indy Car World Series (1993). Mansell was the reigning F1 champion when he moved over to CART, becoming the first person to win the CART title in his debut season, and making him the only person to hold both the World Drivers’ Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship simultaneously. His career in Formula One spanned 15 seasons, with his final two full seasons of top-level racing being spent in the CART series. Mansell is the second most successful British Formula One driver of all time in terms of race wins with 31 victories, (behind Lewis Hamilton with 103 wins), and is seventh overall on the Formula One race winners list, behind Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso. Current Season: 8 podium finishes, 3 race wins, 2 pole positions. Championship standings: 2nd place with 285 points. Best lap times: Sector records at 4 circuits. Career wins: 25 victories from 180 starts. Fastest lap awards: 12 career fastest laps. Team performance: Leading constructor’s championship.