Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez

'This is how badly Cadillac wanted Perez: The Mexican's hefty salary is revealed'

13:21, 30 Aug

byNorberto Mujica

Sergio Perez is set to make his long-awaited F1 comeback next year alongside Valtteri Bottas, sidelined as well in 2025, driving for Cadillac. How far, then, were the Americans willing to go to clinch the Mexican's signature?

According to Mexican media, a long way. As Cadillac have often mentioned themselves since announcing their driver line-up consisting of Bottas and Perez, their primordial focus was on experience.

In order to develop a strong car, and to make sure the car makes it all the way back home in one piece, two fundamental things for a team that's currently in its birthing phase, the Mexican's and the Finn's veteranship was needed, as a rookie driver will always go through a steep learning curve that can result costly, particularly under a budget cap as well.

How much did Cadillac value Perez's veteranship?

According to Mexican outlet Record, Perez will be making roughly the same amount as he was in Red Bull Racing, reportedly: around 10 million dollars, give or take, which could increase substantially given the performance premiums the outlet states are in the Mexican driver's contract with the General Motors-backed team.

Should this number prove true, he'd put his name on the list of the ten best-paid F1 drivers, according to reported figures.