Cadillac Confirms Race Engineers for Bottas and Perez Ahead of 2026 F1 Debut
Cadillac has appointed Carlo Pasetti and John Howard as race engineers for Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, respectively, for the team's 2026 F1 debut. The moves bring experienced personnel from Aston Martin and Alpine to the new operation as it continues its build-up, including initial track testing and a planned Super Bowl livery reveal.
Cadillac has finalized key personnel for its inaugural Formula 1 season in 2026, appointing race engineers for drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Former Aston Martin performance engineer Carlo Pasetti will work with Perez, while ex-Alpine engineer John Howard will partner with Bottas, providing crucial technical leadership as the new team prepares for its competitive debut.
Why it matters:
The appointment of experienced race engineers is a critical step for any new F1 team, establishing the core technical communication and strategy links between the pit wall and the drivers. For Cadillac, securing personnel with recent F1 experience from established teams like Aston Martin and Alpine accelerates their development process and brings valuable operational knowledge to a brand-new operation.
The Details:
- Personnel Assignments: Carlo Pasetti, who joined Cadillac after a stint at Aston Martin, will be the race engineer for Sergio Perez. John Howard, who served as Pierre Gasly's race engineer at Alpine, will fill the same role for Valtteri Bottas.
- Howard's Background: Howard brings nearly 15 years of experience from the Enstone-based team (formerly Renault). He progressed through the ranks to become a senior performance engineer in late 2022 before being promoted to Gasly's race engineer. He left Alpine in April 2025 and joined Cadillac in August.
- Team Progress: Cadillac has been actively preparing, with Bottas completing a seat fit after the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following his departure as Mercedes' reserve driver. The team also conducted its first on-track test in November 2025 with Perez driving a modified 2023 Ferrari at Imola, reportedly setting a lap time in the 1:16s.
- Future Plans: Cadillac will compete using Ferrari customer power units from 2026 and has announced it will unveil its 2026 F1 livery in a commercial during the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026.
What's next:
With the driver lineup and key engineering roles now in place, Cadillac's focus will intensify on car development, simulator work, and pre-season testing. The real measure of their preparation will come at the first race of the 2026 season, where the new team's structure, the driver-engineer partnerships, and the integration of the Ferrari power unit will face their initial competitive test.