Colton Herta may give Cadillac a tricky choice over its future driver line-up in Components 1 if he impresses in Components 2 and earns a Tremendous License subsequent yr, admits workforce principal Graeme Lowdon.
Cadillac has signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as an skilled driver line-up for its first season in 2026, with Herta making the swap from IndyCar to F2 as he seeks the required Tremendous License factors to race in F1. Ought to the Californian safe a license, he could be eligible for one of many Cadillac race seats, and Lowdon admits it’s an issue he’d wish to have in the case of the workforce’s 2027 line-up.
“Each workforce desires to have powerful selections,” Lowdon mentioned. “I actually respect Colton’s method to what he is doing. For me, that is what an actual racing driver desires to do. He is aware of how tough Components 2 is. There’s lots of expertise coming by means of Components 2, you solely have to take a look at the present grid to see that, and he is aware of that as nicely.
“So I actually respect that method. For me, that is the method of an actual racing driver. We wish him to achieve success and we wish him to study all these items.
“That is the best state of affairs [to be knocking on the door] and it is not a menace for Checo and Valtteri, over and above another menace in Components 1. You need to see expertise coming by means of Components 2 – considerably higher if that is all inside our household of drivers. Then it is a greater class of downside to have by any stretch.
“However to be clear, there is not any computerized association. It isn’t about get the license factors, mechanically drive for a workforce. That is not the case. We have mentioned earlier than we choose the drivers on advantage. And that is the way it’s all the time going to be.
“I am actually wanting ahead to seeing Colton race. It is an enormous alternative to study the tires, the circuit. He clearly is aware of race. So I am excited to see how he will get on.”
Cadillac accomplished a testing of earlier automobile (TPC) outing at Imola final week, utilizing a 2023 Ferrari with Sergio Perez behind the wheel. Lowdon says it’s unlikely Herta would get the identical alternatives subsequent yr, however says FP1 outings are being deliberate for the 25-year-old.
“We’ve not explored it. When a brand new workforce is available in, it highlights sure areas of the rules which are a bit of bit extra restrictive for us than anybody else,” he famous. “esting of a earlier automobile – nicely, we have not obtained a earlier automobile so we will not take a look at it!
“Clearly there’s the FP1 alternatives, and as a workforce we now have to dedicate quite a few these to a rookie driver. So clearly Colton is a main candidate for that, that is for positive. However yeah, we simply need to navigate by means of it.
“The way in which the TPC take a look at was carried out this yr, we could not have carried out it except Ferrari successfully donated two of their TPC days to us. Which is nice that Ferrari did that. They’re an incredible associate to have. Having labored with them prior to now, I do know lots of the individuals there very nicely. They’re nice individuals to work with.
“It is nice teamwork whenever you see one thing like that however we will not depend on that, essentially. I am unsure of precisely what element the testing program will happen, however actually FP1s.”
