Sacked F1 star closing in on return to the sport as McLaren driver 'confirms' comeback plan

Former F1 driver Sergio Perez is closing in on a return to the sport for the 2026 season - with one of his compatriots effectively confirming his comeback plan.

Perez had his contract terminated by Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season after a disappointing campaign.

The Mexican had signed an extension earlier in the season to take his deal through to the end of 2026, but Red Bull ended it early.

His replacement, Liam Lawson, was demoted back to Racing Bulls just two races into 2025, while Yuki Tsunoda has also struggled to extract any performance out of the second Red Bull car.

Perez has been hotly linked with a return to Formula 1 with the new Cadillac team, who will enter the sport from 2026 onwards.

The American car manufacturer has a relationship with Andretti Global, who compete in IndyCar, Formula E and Australian Supercars.

Therefore, Cadillac have plenty of connections both within and outside of the F1 paddock.

Their new CEO, Graeme Lowdon, has taken the surprise step of naming the three drivers that Cadillac are currently in talks with.

He has stated that Perez, Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas and former Haas driver Mick Schumacher are all under consideration as the new team look to opt for experience.

There had been initial rumours that Cadillac might opt for an American driver, with IndyCar's Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood both linked as possible options.

Kirkwood, who is one of only three IndyCar winners not named Alex Palou this season, told The Race in January that he would be 'interested' in the vacancy if he was approached.

Fellow IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward would be another intriguing option, given he is already part of McLaren's F1 roster as their reserve and occasional free practice driver.

But the Mexican, who is one of the aforementioned IndyCar race winners this season, confirmed in May that he had not had contact from Cadillac over an F1 seat.

However, in an interview with ESPN, O'Ward has revealed that his compatriot Perez is already in preparation for an F1 comeback himself - and all but confirmed that he will indeed be back on the grid.

"I know he would do it [come back to F1]," he began. "Because I think his exit from Formula 1 wasn't what he wanted.

"Whether or not he chooses to return, he will be an idol. I don't think much changes there.

"Yes [on whether he thinks Perez will return], because I already saw him training. He wouldn't be training if he wasn't going to come back."

According to Autoevolution, Cadillac will announce Perez as one of their drivers for 2026 during next month's Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

The Mexican has already stated that he wants to return to F1, telling the Desde el Paddock podcast in June: "I do, if the right project comes along that I feel is where I should be. I want to go back because I don't want my career to end like this. I'm in no rush, we'll see what happens next year."