Sergio Perez backed for major motorsport return

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has backed Sergio Perez to return to the pinnacle of motorsport next season with Cadillac. 

Cadillac will become the 11th team on the F1 grid next season as a Ferrari customer outfit, for the start of the new power unit regulations. 

After parting ways with Red Bull at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign, Perez is yet to confirm any racing plans for this year. 

However, the Mexican driver has outlined his intent on returning to F1, whilst his father linked him earlier this year with a possible move to Formula E. 

Cadillac is known to be eager for at least one experienced driver as part of its first driver line-up, although American IndyCar star Colton Herta has also been heavily linked. 

Montoya is confident that Perez would be an excellent signing for Cadillac despite the lack of reports linking him to the team. 

However, the Colombian questions what impact having a sabbatical will have on the 35-year-old's driving ability. 

"I think Sergio Perez would be a great candidate for the Cadillac operation," Montoya told Oddspedia.

“He's an experienced guy. He's a guy who knows what it takes. He's been in the best teams. He understands the whole thing. And he’s a guy that is not going to crash the car. 

"He's going to be a consistent guy. He’s a guy that is going to bring the car home every week.

"The big question is, if he's taken a sabbatical from F1, how long will it take him to get back up to speed? It's hard for him because, suddenly, you don't hear anything about Checo.

"Since it was announced, there has not been a single article about Checo. It’s sad, but it's the nature of the beast."