The American team will officially enter Formula 1 next season, with at least six drivers in the running for the two seats.
In 2026, Cadillac will make its official debut in F1, joining the Circus as the 11th team. Last week, the FIA confirmed that it had accepted all the requirements from the American team, which will thus line up for the start of the season during the regulatory change.
The exponential growth linked to Cadillac‘s entry into F1 has allowed the team to work on the new car project for some time, despite the official announcement only coming a few days ago. The American partnerships with General Motors and Andretti have enabled the team to expand significantly, bringing more personnel on board for the F1 car project.
Regarding the driver situation, at least six drivers, according to Team Principal Graeme Lawdon, are in the running for the two seats. He said: “I think the timing is a bit strange because we’re not in sync with other teams. We weren’t in the driver market last year, at a pretty critical time, so some drivers are already tied to other teams for the future. Luckily, there are a lot of good drivers out there, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to be in the driver market until the entry was confirmed.”
Lawdon then added: “F1 isn’t a playground. It’s the pinnacle of motorsport. So we have to select drivers based on merit. And luckily for us, there are many good drivers out there. Do we value experience? Yes, you can see that in how we’re putting together the rest of the team. There are many experienced people in the management and operational side of the team. It’s an important aspect, but there are many facets to the decision-making process, such as skills, capabilities, and experience, while also looking to the future.”
The team’s focus suggests that the lineup could feature an American driver (with Colton Herta as the favorite) and an experienced one, who, according to rumors, could be Valtteri Bottas. Here’s Lawdon’s thoughts on that: “Do we see experienced and capable drivers, in fact, very talented ones, who aren’t on the grid right now? Yes, that’s the case. So we will be very busy talking to some people. My phone has certainly been busy, that’s for sure. There are easily half a dozen, if not more, candidates who offer excellent credentials to be in F1 or return to F1.”
One of the possible names is Zhou, and here is Lawdon’s take on the Ferrari driver: “I think Zhou has done a very good job under difficult circumstances. I’ve had the chance to see his background because I had a front-row seat to see his skills, so that’s an advantage for me. There are the right checks and balances, so there’s no favoritism in any particular direction towards him or any other driver we might be involved with.”
And finally: “The situation is a bit difficult because, being a new team, the timing isn’t as defined as it usually is. Normally, it’s pretty clear to everyone involved in driver negotiations. But for sure, we want drivers who can contribute to the overall program. We’re here to do a job, so we will select drivers based on merit. There are some really good ones.”
