Sergio Perez is inching closer to being signed by the Cadillac F1 team, but reports he is on the verge of being announced are premature.
Perez departed the F1 grid at the end of the 2024 campaign following his fourth year with Red Bull, enduring consistent struggles throughout the campaign.
The Mexican has used the time away from racing to explore his options for the future and discover if he wishes to return to the grid, as well as being able to spend time with his family.
RacingNews365 reported earlier this year that Perez was in talks with Cadillac over a seat at the team for 2026.
The American manufacturer will join the grid as an 11th team and expand the F1 field beyond 20 cars for the first time in a decade.
Cadillac has continuously outlined it was seeking an experienced name to fill one of the seats, placing Perez as an ideal candidate with his 281 grand prix starts.
Reports on the build-up to the Miami Grand Prix this weekend suggested Perez could be announced as a driver for the 2026 campaign - however RacingNews365 understands this will not be the case.
Cadillac is set to have a launch event on Saturday in Miami where it will kickstart its F1 journey - but an official announcement about the driver line-up is not expected.
However, Perez is getting closer to securing the driver and it is believed the 35-year-old is the first option for Cadillac should it keep its pledge of wanting an experienced hand.
A return for Perez would offer him a chance at a fresh start following his Red Bull struggles, and Cadillac would boost itself in the Mexican market while also being able to rely on Perez's feedback and experience with several other F1 outfits.
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