Warwick: Cadillac F1 team should aim for Perez in 2026

Speaking on the current situation surrounding Red Bull's second seat alongside Max Verstappen with the Plejmo media team, Warwick said: “Red Bull needs to try and find a way of making that second car fast, because quite clearly driving the same car as Max does not work. They put every driver through there.

"We all know that Yuki's quick, he's had a disaster. It almost shows that Perez was doing a better job than we gave him credit for. Was it a mistake letting Perez go? It looks like it,” Warwick added.

Warwick also criticised the team's handling of Tsunoda’s future, urging Red Bull to provide a stable environment for their second driver: “You don’t keep on saying we’re looking at other drivers and all that sort of stuff, because all that does is put pressure on their driver.

"Instead of driving with soft hands and a soft steering wheel, he ends up trying too hard, braking too late. I think they need to come out now and say, Yuki’s in it for the season. No question. I don’t care if he crashes every race, I don’t care if he’s lost every race – he’s in for the season. They need to give that second driver, whoever it is, confidence that he’s in for the season.”

With Perez set to become a free agent, Warwick suggested the Mexican veteran would be an ideal signing for Cadillac’s upcoming F1 programme: “Checo Perez would be a good person to have with the team, he's got a lot of experience, he understands what makes a car win. Is he ultimately the quickest? If I was a Cadillac, I would definitely put Perez in one of my cars.”

Warwick also offered support for Lance Stroll, who has come under continued scrutiny throughout his F1 career: “I think everybody’s on Lance's back because he's the son of a billionaire. I think Lance Stroll does a better job than everybody gives him credit for. I think 14 of the 16 points they've got this year have come from Lance.”

“Is he Max Verstappen? No. Is he an Alonso? No. Is he as good as Hadjar, Lawson, Tsunoda, Colapinto and drivers like that? I think he is," added Warwick of Stroll, who currently sits ahead of Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship after nine rounds.

The 70-year-old is a British former Formula 1 driver who competed in 146 Grands Prix between 1981 and 1993, driving for teams such as Toleman, Renault, Brabham, Lotus, and Arrows. Though he never won a race, he earned four podiums and scored 71 championship points, gaining a reputation for resilience and racecraft.

After retiring from F1, Warwick won the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot and became a respected figure in motorsport governance. He later served as an FIA Formula 1 race steward and was President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club from 2011 to 2017, promoting British motorsport.