Sergio Perez gets backing from F1 rival for deserved ‘second chance’

Carlos Sainz has backed Cadillac’s resolution to signal Sergio Perez as certainly one of their drivers, saying he deserves a second likelihood in F1.

Perez will return to F1 in 2026 with Cadillac, partnering former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.

The skilled duo had been dropped by their respective groups – Crimson Bull and Sauber – on the finish of final yr.

Perez’s kind tailed off in 2024, main Crimson Bull to switch him with Liam Lawson.

Regardless of a powerful marketing campaign, Bottas was dropped by Sauber in favour of F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.

Sainz believes that, like Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg – each of whom returned to F1 after spells out of the game – Perez’s comeback is properly deserved.

Talking through El Heraldo de Mexico, Sainz mentioned: “Properly, I believe Checo has already proven everybody how gifted he’s and the energy he has, proper? As a driver, as an athlete, with the sporting profession he has in Components 1.

“Now he’s getting ready, I believe, for a second, totally different stage, however I believe it’s very motivating, very, very encouraging for him.

“Ultimately, I believe that second probabilities in Components 1 are given to only a few drivers, and they’re given to drivers who’ve actually marked a earlier than and after, as was the case with Ricciardo, Checo.

“Ultimately, Hulkenberg has had his second likelihood. These are drivers who’ve actually managed to face out rather a lot, and Checo is certainly one of them.”

Perez set for first Cadillac take a look at

Perez will return to testing motion for the primary time because the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later this month.

He’ll drive a 2023 Ferrari automobile as Cadillac don’t but have a chassis of their very own.

Not like teammate Bottas – who stays contracted to Mercedes as their third driver – Perez is a free agent and is already embedding himself inside the group.

“We’ll have some testing classes in November,” Perez mentioned.

“They’ll be very helpful as a result of we’ll be capable to work with the mechanics and engineers to have the entire group prepared for the testing programme that begins in January — very early within the yr — the place we’ll already be at 100 per cent.”