Perez receives increasing support for major F1 return

Johnny Herbert has backed Sergio Perez to return to Formula 1 next season with Cadillac, a partnership he believes "makes sense". 

Perez is yet to compete in any category since parting ways with Red Bull at the end of last year but has been heavily linked with the new Cadillac outfit arriving next season. 

The Mexican driver is a leading candidate to take one of the two seats at the new American team, with the 35-year-old being eager to return to the pinnacle of motorsport. 

Based on Liam Lawson's struggles at Red Bull and shock demotion back to Racing Bulls after just two races, many have jumped to support Perez who received waves of criticism for how he fared alongside Max Verstappen.

Herbert is part of the group who think Lawson's difficulties highlight that Perez did better than initially believed and that he would suit Cadillac.

"Yes, Sergio Perez to Cadillac makes sense," Herbert told SambaSlots. "As we’ve seen with hindsight, if nothing else, he did a good job at Red Bull. 

"It wasn't perfect. He didn't win a championship, but he did show that he had some raw pace. The consistency was probably the only thing that was lacking compared to Max.”

Cadillac has long identified an experienced driver as a key element in its driver line-up decision - something Herbert sees playing into Perez's hands.

"He’d be good for Cadillac, a good driver to have on board for Cadillac because, coming into the sport, they’ll have someone with that experience which would only benefit them, in the car, in the factory and also in the various American markets,” he said.

"That's something I'm sure that has been taken into consideration, but it's also the passion that Sergio has. It's not as if he's just gone away and said, right, that's it. He’s still got the fire in his stomach for Formula 1.

"That’s good to see. And I think it would be a perfect fit."