Sergio Pérez Forms Part of Cadillac’s Driver Lineup for Formula 1 Debut Season in 2026

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Sergio Pérez is ready to be iconic…

Cadillac has confirmed the 35-year-old Mexican racing driver, who most recently competed in Formula 1 from 2011 to 2024, and Valtteri Bottas will form its driver lineup for its Formula 1 debut season in 2026.

Cadillac has opted for the two best free agents available, with a combined 527 race starts and 16 race wins between them.

Tuesday’s announcement video included a voice-over from actor Keanu Reeves and in an accompanying statement, Cadillac said Pérez and Bottas bring “an unmatched blend of experience, leadership and technical acumen.”

It added that “the pair will play a central role in shaping the team’s competitive foundation from day one.”

Pérez had been a free agent after being dropped by Red Bull at the end of a difficult 2024 season.

He said his ambition is to immediately help establish the new team as a competitive force.

“Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career. From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project,” Pérez said in Tuesday’s announcement.

“It’s an honor to be part of a building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front. Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a huge responsibility, one I’m confident of taking on.”

Bottas has also been without a race seat this year. The Finn returned to former team Mercedes, where he raced between 2017 and 2021, as reserve driver this season, following three years with Sauber.

“From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different — something ambitious but also grounded,” Bottas said. “This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision. It’s not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.”

Pérez and Bottas were on opposite sides of the legendary 2021 championship battle between their then-teammates, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, widely regarded as one of the best title fights in the sport’s history.

Cadillac, a brand of General Motors, will become F1‘s 11th team next season.

The American team will race with Ferrari engines in the short term, although GM has already committed to building its own engines out of a U.S. headquarters by the end of the decade.

Early in the process, which led to Cadillac being granted a process on the grid, it was clear the team wanted to join Formula 1 with an American driver in one of the two available seats.

However, that never came to pass — despite IndyCar‘s Colton Herta, seen as the most likely candidate for that role, hedging his interest in switching to F1 earlier this year.

Realistically, there were limited options for a team which expects to face a steep learning curve next season as the first new arrival on the grid since another American outfit, Haas, joined in 2016.

Cadillac’s team is run by former Manor team boss Graeme Lowden and features American racing legend Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 champion, on its board of directors.

Speaking of the new lineup, Lowden said: “Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent.

“They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life. A big thank you to the team at Mercedes for their co-operation and understanding.”

Cadillac still has an opportunity for a reserve driver to serve as backup to Pérez and Bottas, with Mick Schumacher reportedly a strong candidate, while American Formula 2 driver Jak Crawford is also known to be pushing for that role.

The operation will be based primarily out of a UK factory near the Silverstone race circuit, but also has U.S. bases is Fishers, Indiana, and Warren, Michigan. Plans are in place for GM to open a specific Formula 1 engine factory in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2026.

Felipe Massa Among Investors in France’s Le Mans Football Team

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Felipe Massa is getting in the futbol game…

The 44-year-old Brazilian racing driver is part of a group of investors who’ve bought a stake in French second-tier football team Le Mans, along with fellow ex-Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen and tennis star Novak Djokovic , the club said on Friday.

Le Mans said in a statement that they join other new financial investors into the club, including Latin American sports investment firm OutField and Georgios Frangulis, the founder and chief executive of OakBerry. Frangulis is the boyfriend of three-time women’s Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka.

“The uniqueness of this fund also lies in its contribution from high-level athletes,” Le Mans president Thierry Gomez said in the statement. “Novak Djokovic, Felipe Massa, and Kevin Magnussen will be part of the adventure.”

No financial details were given.

Massa won 11 races and secured 41 podiums in his F1 career. When driving for Ferrari, the popular Brazilian was within a whisker of winning the 2008 title, only for Lewis Hamilton to beat him in a dramatic finish at the last race. Hamilton won the title by 98 points to 97.

Le Mans football club, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, begin their league campaign on August 9.

Le Mans — a small city in northwestern France — also hosts the famed 24-hour endurance car race.

Bad Bunny Partners with Adidas Originals & Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS to Bring Formula 1 Racing to Puerto Rico

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny has a new formula to promote his native land…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar, Adidas Originals and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team are joining up to bring Formula 1 racing to Puerto Rico for the first time on Saturday, August 2.

To celebrate the three-way collaboration bringing F1 to Puerto Rico, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 have also announced that Bad Bunny is officially joining the team as its newest member.

The press release did not specify what duties this will entail.

Open to the public and free of charge, this showcase — which kicks off at 9:00 am local time — will be the “first time in history that a Formula 1 car has touched Puerto Rican soil,” according to the press release.

At the heart of this spectacle is a demo run featuring a Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 car driven by Mexican motorsports star Esteban Gutiérrez that will race across the Puente Dos Hermanos bridge, which was built in 1910.

Following the demo run, attendees will get the opportunity to immerse themselves in racing history. A curated exhibit at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico (aka El Choli) will showcase Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 race suits, gloves, boots and other archival gear, honoring decades of motorsport excellence.

As Bad Bunny continues his 30-show sold-out residency at El Choli, the partnership continues to “reflect the aim of Adidas, the artist, and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 to spotlight Puerto Rico on a global stage,” the press release notes, as it also aims to “energize the team’s serious competitive perspective through Bad Bunny’s trailblazing identity as a generational force and Originals’ unrelenting aesthetic innovation.”

Franco Colapinto Joins Alpine as Reserve Driver for Upcoming Formula 1 Season

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Franco Colapinto is officially on F1 reserve…

The 21-year-old Argentine racing driver has joined Alpine as a reserve driver for the upcoming Formula 1 season, the team has revealed.

Colapinto will be on stand-by behind Alpine race drivers Pierre Gasly and Australian rookie Jack Doohan should either be unable to contest a race, while also being available for testing duties.

Colapinto’s arrival wilt increase the pressure and scrutiny on Doohan, a product of Alpine’s driver academy and son of motorbike racing legend Mick, who was given an early F1 debut at last year’s finale in Abu Dhabi.

Alpine has been keen to stress this week that Colapinto’s arrival has no bearing on its driver line-up, but reports in Argentina suggest otherwise.

“I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team,” Colapinto, who has signed a multi-year deal with the team, said. “First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. They turned my dream of racing in Formula 1 into reality, and I will always be grateful for that.

“Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour.”

Colapinto quickly became a popular figure in his native Argentina after replacing Logan Sergeant at Williams midway through 2024.

A string of impressive performances put him on the radar of both Alpine and Red Bull.

Interest from the latter waned after Colapinto crashed in Brazil and Las Vegas, but Alpine has pursued his signature for months.

Sources have told ESPN Williams, who go into the new year with a race line-up of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, required a buyout to release Colapinto from his contract with them.

Much like Liam Lawson with Daniel Ricciardo at RB last year, the presence of Colapinto at Alpine as the season progresses will likely be a source of continuing intrigue.

Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore added: “Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in motorsport right now.

“It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula 1 grid last year caught many, me included, by surprise and his performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver.

“We have an eye on our future and his signing means we have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in developing the team for future success.”

Alpine’s confirmation came hours after adding Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa as a reserve and test driver.

The Japanese driver, 30, will also take part in first practice at the Japanese Grand Prix for the team on April 4.

Hirakawa was a development driver for McLaren and raced in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota last year. The other Alpine F1 reserve is Paul Aron, who impressed in Formula 2 in 2024.

Sergio Perez Remaining with Red Bull Racing Through End of Year

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Sergio Perez is staying in the red (bull)…

The 34-year-old Mexican racing driver will remain a Formula One driver beyond the summer break and until the end of the year, Red Bull has confirmed.

The shock decision was announced by Horner to the Red Bull factory, sources confirmed to ESPN.

“Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break,” Horner said.

Perez’s future has been hanging in the balance for a while and as recently as the Belgian Grand Prix weekend sources had told ESPN he could be replaced over the summer break, which runs until the end of August.

On Monday, Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko held a meeting to discuss a number of issues including the future of Perez.

The outcome of that discussion was an agreement Perez should see out the season with the team.

The Mexican driver has failed to score a podium since the Chinese GP in April and his poor form, coupled with McLaren’s resurgence, has left Red Bull under threat in the constructors’ championship.

He has accumulated just 28 points over the last eight races.

According to sources, plenty of people within Red Bull fear the team will lose the constructors’ championship to McLaren this season and most point to Perez as the reason why.

Focus will now turn to the upcoming Imola test of RB‘s Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson on Wednesday.

Originally viewed as an audition for the Perez seat, that may well now be a straight shootout — either for Ricciardo to keep his seat beyond the break or for Lawson to replace him at the Dutch Grand Prix and beyond.

Ricciardo, still without a contract extension for 2025, saw an uptick in performance before the summer break which appeared to have moved him closer to staying put this season.

Carlos Sainz Agrees to Multi-Year Deal with Williams

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Sainz is racing towards a new team…

The 29-year-old Spanish racing driver, who currently competes in Formula One, will leave Ferrari and join Williams in 2025, the team confirmed on Monday, ending months of speculation about his future.

Sainz has signed on a multi-year deal with Williams, meaning he’ll drive alongside Alex Albon in 2025.

Announcing the deal, Williams said he’ll race at the team “for ’25, ’26 and beyond”, with the deal including two guaranteed years and another option season after that.

American driver Logan Sargeant will make way for Sainz at the end of the current season and it’s unlikely he’ll continue in F1 beyond that point.

Sainz’s next step has been unclear since Ferrari announced the signing of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton for next season.

“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards,” he said. “It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision.

“However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport.

“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on Jan. 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”

Sainz has won three F1 races, including this year’s Australian Grand Prix.

Williams boss James Vowles said the signing gives his team one of the strongest line-ups on the grid.

“Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties,” he said. “Carlos has demonstrated time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree, and this underlines the upwards trajectory we are on. Carlos brings not just experience and performance, but also a fierce drive to extract every millisecond out of the team and car; the fit is perfect.

“In Alex and Carlos we will have one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid and with huge experience to guide us into the new regulations in 2026.

“Their belief in this organization’s mission demonstrates the magnitude of the work going on behind the scenes. People should be in no doubt about our ambition and momentum as we continue our journey back to competitiveness — we are here, we are serious and with Dorilton’s backing we are investing in what it takes to return to the front of the grid.

“I also want to thank Logan for everything he has done for the team and know he will continue to fight hard for us in the races ahead.”

Netflix Releases Trailer for Biopic “Senna,” Starring Gabriel Leone

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Leone is shifting gears…

Netflix has released the trailer for its Senna biopic, which stars the 30-year-old Brazilian actor and musician.

Premiering later this year, the project stars Gabriel Leone as the eponymous driver.

The trailer recreates his historic victory at the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos, following a challenging race where he was mostly stuck in sixth gear and also marking the first time he won in his hometown of Sao Paulo.

The teaser also displays possible thoughts and experiences, interspersed with images of the race that led Senna to where he had got to in his career before he tragically died in 1994.

The six-part series starts with the genesis of the three-time F1 champion’s motor racing career, when he moves to England to compete in Formula Ford, and runs until his tragic accident in Imola, Italy, during the San Marino Grand Prix.

Senna also stars Kaya Scodelario, whose mother is Brazillian, fresh off the back of her turn in Netflix’s The Gentlemen.

With Vicente Amorim as showrunner and co-director, alongside with Julia Rezende, Senna is produced by Fabiano Gullane and Caio Gullane with the support of Senna Brands and the driver’s family.

It also stars Alice Wegmann (Lilian Vasconcelos, Ayrton’s first wife), Camila Márdila (Vivianne Senna, his sister), Christian Malheiros (Maurinho, his friend), Gabriel Louchard (Galvão Bueno), Hugo Bonemer (Nelson Piquet), Julia Foti (Adriane Galisteu), Marco Ricca (“Maurão” Senna, his father), Nicolas Cruz (Leonardo Senna, his brother), Rodrigo Veloso (Flavio, brother-in-law) and Susana Ribeiro (Zaza Senna, his mother), plus an international cast including Matt Mella (Alain Prost), Arnaud Viard (Jean-Marie Balestre), Patrick Kennedy (Ron Dennis), Joe Hurst (Keith Sutton), Johannes Heinrichs (Niki Lauda), Keisuke Hoashi (Osamu Goto), Leon Ockenden (James Hunt), Richard Clothier (Peter Warr), Steven Mackintosh (Frank Williams) and Tom Mannion (Sid Watkins).

Head scriptwriter is Gustavo Bragança and writers are Álvaro Campos, Gustavo Bragança, Rafael Spínola, Thais Falcão and Álvaro Mamute. Amorim is directing with Júlia Rezende.

An Asif Kapadia doc about Senna won two BAFTAs in 2011.

Patricio “Pato” O’Ward Signs with Range Media Partners

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Patricio “Pato” O’Ward is expanding his Range…

The 24-year-old Mexican professional auto racer, who competes full-time in the IndyCar Series, has signed with Range Media Partners.

The signing comes off the heels of the recent announcement that O’Ward, the Arrow McLaren driver, was named a Formula One Reserve Driver for McLaren F1 for the upcoming 2024 season.

As he speeds towards his racing dreams, Range will be helping O’Ward further expand his media repertoire, building out a larger brand partnerships strategy and a content business across television and film.

Originally from Mexico, O’Ward grew up in San Antonio where he started his racing journey karting at the age of 6.

Seven years later, he began competing in open-wheel racing, including the LATAM Formula 2000, Formula Renault 1.6 NEC and Pacific Formula F2000.

He is the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship champion in the Prototype Challenge class, a two-time class winner at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and a Prototype Challenge class winner at the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

In 2018, O’Ward was named Rookie of the Year after becoming the Indy NXT by Firestone champion (previously known as Indy Lights).

O’Ward had a strong 2023 IndyCar season, including his best starting position to date in the 2023 Indianapolis 500, ultimately finishing fourth in the championship with the most podium finishes (seven) and top five finishes of his career. This success allowed O’Ward to qualify for his FIA Super License, which coupled with his strong performance in the new McLaren Driver Development Programme, helped pave the way for his recent promotion to McLaren’s reserve driver pool for 2024.

Carlos Sainz Teams Up with Justin Thomas to Claim First-Ever Netflix Cup Trophy

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Sainz is celebrating his Netflix and thrill moment…

The 29-year-old Spanish racing driver, who currently competes in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari, and pro golfer Justin Thomas teamed up to win the first-ever Netflix Cup, a crossover event featuring PGA TOUR players and F1 drivers competing in an eight-hole scramble.

The first-of-a-kind event was held Tuesday at Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas.

The duo hoisted the Cup together in the post-match ceremony, with Thomas then drinking from the Cup. Then Sainz had his turn, and he dropped the trophy, which broke.

Thomas and Sainz defeated the tandem of Tony Finau and Pierre Gasly in the closest-to-pin contest on the final hole after the four-team field was cut in half following eight holes of match play.

The competition qualified as silly at times, but the spectators lining the course to watch seemed to find it entertaining.

A number of celebrities were on hand for the event, which also included controversial topics.

Protesters, apparently representing PETA, came onto the course to demand that F1, with parent company Liberty Media, cut ties with the Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska.

While golf was the designated sport, it was far from any typical round.

There were plenty of antics with the golf itself. For instance, on the first tee, four golfers teed off at the same time and then raced to their golf carts, following the designated “race course” onto the fairway to get to their balls. Golfers raced to get to the green and to see who could arrive fastest, locate their golf balls and then putt amid the mayhem on the greens.

As part of the race to get to the greens, golfer Rickie Fowler was driving the cart with F1 driver Lando Norris as the passenger.

The other team was Max Homa–Alex Albon. Finau was credited with the competition’s first birdie.

This competition was a prelude to the weekend’s Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix.

This was Netflix’s first live airing of a sports event.

Camila Márdila to Star in Netflix’s Highly-Anticipated Biopic Series “Senna”

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Márdila is preparing for life in the fast lane…

The 35-year-old Brazilian actress will star in Netflix’s highly-anticipated Senna biopic series.

Over the course of six episodes, Senna will, for the first time, depict the journey of overcoming obstacles, ups and downs, joys, and sorrows of Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna da Silva, a Brazilian racing driver who won the F1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

Senna is one of three Formula One drivers from Brazil to win the World Championship and won 41 Grand Prixs and 65 pole positions, with the latter being the record until 2006.

He died tragically in Italy during the San Marino Grand Prix.

A 2010 documentary from Asif Kapadia on the sports star won Best Documentary at the BAFTAs.

Mardilla, who joins previously-announced lead Gabriel Leone and Kaya Scodelario, is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Alice Wegmann, Christian Malheiros, Gabriel Louchard, Hugo Bonemer, Julia Foti, Marco Ricca, Pâmela Tomé and Susana Ribeiro.

Other previously announced cast members include Matt Mella, Arnaud Viard, Joe Hurst, Johannes Heinrichs, Keisuke Hoashi, Leon Ockenden, Patrick Kennedy, Richard Clothier, Steven Mackintosh and Tom Mannion .

The large-scale production and some of the actors have just arrived in Brazil, where filming is taking place in São Paulo and Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro.

The Gullane-produced miniseries, one of Netflix’s biggest in Brazil, has already filmed in Argentina and Uruguay and will proceed to the UK after completing filming in the country.

Vicente Amorim is showrunner and the director is Julia Rezende.

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