Cadillac Formula 1 team principal Marcin Budkowski has lauded Sergio Perez’s contribution to the squad’s inaugural 2026 campaign, firmly dismissing speculation linking the Mexican driver to a potential move to Williams.
The 36-year-old veteran joined the American operation for its debut season and, despite the team’s current lack of points due to a performance deficit, has demonstrated his enduring class. Perez leads teammate Valtteri Bottas 9-5 in their qualifying head-to-head, including sprint races, and has spearheaded Cadillac’s effort to bridge the gap to the midfield.
This form triggered rumors of interest from Williams, where the futures of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz remain uncertain. However, Budkowski emphasized the critical stability Perez provides to a fledgling organization.
“Checo has been an asset to the team, and so have both drivers, to be honest, because there has been a lot of talk about taking two very experienced drivers,” Budkowski stated during a media roundtable alongside CEO Dan Towriss. “But I think it’s crucial in a young team like this to provide that experience and stability. If you have a driver learning and the whole team learning at the same time, that’s too many variables. So I think it’s important to have a driver like Checo on board.”
Marcin, Budkowski, Cadillac
Photo by: Cadillac Communications
The 2026 season has showcased a revitalized Perez, a far cry from the form that precipitated his Red Bull departure at the end of 2024 and a subsequent sabbatical. He is reportedly pushing the team aggressively behind the scenes to accelerate development of the MAC-26, leveraging experience garnered from six victories across 292 Grand Prix starts.
Budkowski added: “From what I know, because of the conversations I’ve had with Dan, but also with other people from the team, he’s not only been driving exceptionally well, but he’s been pushing the team very, very hard in the background. That’s to be expected from a driver like him, who’s been at Red Bull for years and with the best. I think that’s the kind of mindset that we want and that’s also the kind of mindset that I will bring. So I’m sure we’ll be aligned completely on the mindset and on the drive.”
Towriss Dismisses Williams Rumours
Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and Cassidy Towriss
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Towriss reinforced Budkowski’s stance, categorically ruling out any imminent departure for the Mexican driver.
“I would underline all the things that Marcin said,” stated Towriss. “Checo’s been a tremendous asset to the team. He’s driven very well and certainly has pushed quite hard. I’m very confident that Checo is going to remain with Cadillac and we’re not distracted by the Williams rumours for a second. We’re very confident in the relationship here and that you’re going to see him piloting the Cadillac F1 car.”