Sergio Perez took a massive gamble joining Cadillac for the 2026 Formula 1 season. He hoped to lead the brand-new American project to the front of the grid. Instead, he has spent the year fighting at the very back of the pack in a completely uncompetitive car.

Now, it looks like he has finally had enough. New reports suggest the Mexican veteran might leave the team entirely.

Perez’s Escape Plan

According to F1 insider Kym Illman via Paddock Access, Perez is actively drawing attention from the rest of the paddock. Several rival teams on the grid have already expressed serious interest in signing him away from Cadillac.

The American garage is desperately trying to hold onto him. Reports confirm that Cadillac really wants to keep Perez in their seat.

But team bosses know it will be incredibly difficult to convince him to stay because the car is simply too slow. Sitting at the back of the grid every Sunday is clearly taking a toll on his patience, and the lack of competitiveness is pushing him toward the exit door.

Talent and Deep Pockets

Why is a driver from a backmarker team suddenly in such high demand? It comes down to a perfect mix of pure skill and hard cash.

First, the paddock recognizes that Perez is still performing at a very high level. He has demonstrated to the other teams that his poor race results are a direct product of the heavy, slow Cadillac machinery, not his actual driving ability.

Second, Formula 1 is a business. Perez still carries massive financial backing from his personal sponsors. That huge influx of sponsor money remains highly attractive to rival teams looking to boost their development budgets.

Right now, Cadillac is in serious trouble. They have a brilliant driver, but they cannot give him a fast car. If they don’t find some speed soon, Perez and his sponsor money will easily find a new home on the grid.