Sergio👍 Perez could return to Formula 1 in 2026 to join the nascent Cadillac 💧operation, according to the team's advisor Mario Andretti.

The 1978 world champion🌺 has been appointed a director on Cadillac’s F1 board and his job dutiesꦫ include hunting two drivers for its Ferrari-powered car next year.

Andretti stressed that General Mo𓃲tors is looking for an experienced driver to lead its line-up and assist its high-profile entry into the pinnacle of motorsport.

He explained that the team has already shortlisted three drivers for the project, but stopped short of reveal🐭ing when a final decision w𝔍ill be made.

“The second seat will definitely be for aꦬn experienced driver that can be availa𒉰ble,” the 85-year-old told .

“We all know that the selection in that respect is quite clea🃏r. Maybe three drivers realistic🔯ally to choose from, I'm not going to tell you which ones.

“I wish I could tell you this but this is something that we are keeping very private on our own because we don't want to g🅠ive someone some hopes in some areas where maybe it's not going to♎ happen.”

Will Sergio Perez return to F1 with Cadillac?

Perez has been out of drive since he was dropped by Red Bull at the end of last season.

The Mexican previously stated that he woulౠd take a sabbati✨cal for six months before deciding the next step in his career.

Many see the 35-year-old as an ideal candidate for Cadillac, having scored six wins and 39 podiums since he made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2011.

Asked if Perez and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Mick Schumacher - another ex-F1 racer without a grand prix seat - are contenders for a Cadillac seat, Andretti said: “Abs🌳olutely. Theseꦡ are all options.

“You look at who is available and you♛ can see who has the most experience. You want experience for sure.

“I don't have the final say but I will have some influe♊nce. We speak all the time [with the team] [and] we all like to be on the same page.

“I'm not the total boss so🤪 I don't make the final decisions, but I think they will list✤en to me.”

Perez played a key role in 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s title bid 🌠in 2021 and also helped Red Bull win back-to-back constructors’ titles in 2022-23.

When Red Bull axed him from its line-up last🉐 season, iꦐt referred to his lack of results in 2024 as a justification.

However, his replacement Liam Lawson struggled even more to adapt to his new surroundings at Red Bull this year, leading to suggestions that there are deeper issues preventing Verstappen’s teamma⛄tes from succeeding ౠin F1.

Andretti said Lawson’s plight in the early races of 2025 shows how good a job Perez was doing in a car that was becoming increasingly difficu🐠lt to drive last year.

“All I can say is that Liam La൲wson is making Checo look very, very gooꦓd,” said Andretti.

“The young lad is having some really big problems adjusting to the car and maybe Yuki [Tsunoda] should be in that position. Think he probably deserved that drive more th🍌an Liam.”