Cadillac refuses to be distracted by Williams rumours – Cadillac is confident Sergio Pérez will remain with the team for the 2027 Formula 1 season despite rumours linking the Mexican with a move to Williams.
Recent speculation has suggested that Pérez has already explored the possibility of joining Williams, where uncertainty surrounds Carlos Sainz’s future. However, Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has played down the whispers and insisted that the team expects its experienced driver to stay.
“We are not letting the Williams rumours distract us for a second,” Towriss said during a media briefing. “I am confident that Checo will remain with Cadillac. We have faith in our relationship and that we will see him driving a Cadillac car [in the 2027 season].”
Budkowski stresses Pérez’s experience
New Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski has also made clear that Pérez remains an important part of the team’s plans.
Budkowski, who was appointed to replace Graeme Lowdon this week, pointed to the value of having an experienced driver alongside a team still learning the demands of Formula 1.
“I think for such a young team, it’s crucial to have this experience and stability. If a driver and the team have to learn at the same time, there are too many variables,” Budkowski said.
“So it’s important to have a driver like Checo on board. He not only drives exceptionally well, but also pushes the team very, very hard behind the scenes.”
Pérez’s value therefore extends beyond his results on track. His extensive experience with teams including Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point and Red Bull gives the new operation a driver capable of providing technical feedback while helping develop its processes.
Pérez faces a difficult first season
Whether Pérez ultimately sees his future in the same way remains a separate question.
At 36, the Mexican is approaching the latter stages of his F1 career, and his first season with Cadillac has so far offered limited opportunities to fight at the front of the field.
Cadillac entered the season as a new operation and has faced the expected challenges of establishing itself in Formula 1. The team’s lack of points during the opening half of the campaign has only increased the pressure on its drivers.
Pérez has also been battling teammate Valtteri Bottas towards the bottom of the championship standings, leaving little opportunity to demonstrate his competitiveness through headline results.
That situation could make any genuinely competitive alternative attractive if one becomes available.
Williams speculation could become significant
The Williams rumours are therefore unlikely to disappear completely, particularly if uncertainty over Sainz’s position continues.
Cadillac’s leadership is publicly standing behind Pérez. Towriss has made his expectation clear, while Budkowski has underlined why the team believes the veteran driver remains valuable during its formative years.
The next question is whether that confidence survives if Williams, or another established team, offers Pérez a more competitive route for 2027.
Cadillac’s growing list of off-track challenges
The latest developments add to a turbulent period for Cadillac, with TJ13 previously reporting on legal action involving Michael Andretti, whose original Andretti Global project ultimately evolved into the Cadillac F1 operation now backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors.
Andretti stepped away from the day-to-day running of the organisation before the Cadillac entry was formally approved, with Dan Towriss subsequently taking the lead on the F1 project. Andretti remains connected to the wider TWG motorsport organisation, ensuring his involvement in the story has not disappeared entirely.
TJ13 has also reported on continuing disruption within the organisation, including concerns surrounding employees being required to relocate to the United States as Cadillac develops its American operations while maintaining its Silverstone base.
The separate developments do not establish a connection between the various issues, but they underline the scale of the organisational changes taking place around Formula 1’s newest team.
Expect way more from this topic in the coming weeks. Turbulent times are afoot.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
