Sergio Pérez had doubts about returning to the Formula 1 grid after a year away from the sport, but believes that what he has done with Cadillac has already proven that he is still one of the best on the grid.
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The Mexican returned to the field in the 2026 season after losing his seat at Red Bull in 2025. Now, he is with the American rookie team alongside Valtteri Bottas, facing a naturally challenging start to the campaign for a newly created team.
After 11 rounds, Cadillac has yet to score points, with Checo’s best results being two 14th places in Barcelona and Silverstone. However, for Pérez, what he has done is already enough validation.
When asked how different the new era of F1 seems compared to the one he had left behind, the 36-year-old driver gave a surprisingly simple assessment before offering a more introspective perspective.
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“No, it’s similar. To be honest, I had doubts about returning to the sport after the year I was away. But when I came back, I was meeting expectations and delivering a very high level of performance,” he told RacingNews365.
“I proved to myself that I am still among the best. That’s why the return has brought me a lot of satisfaction, regardless of the car’s competitiveness level. Those who understand the sport understand my performance, and that is the most important,” he added.
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