Cadillac has shortlisted as many as seven drivers for its 2026 Components 1 debut, with group boss Graeme Lowdon confirming talks with a mixture of skilled names and rising skills.
The Common Motors model will probably be fielding a grand prix group for the primary time subsequent 12 months as a part of a partnership with TWG International’s Andretti International.
Cadillac’s entry would broaden the F1 grid to 22 automobiles, creating house for 2 extra drivers who would have in any other case been left with no seat.
Numerous names have been linked to Cadillac in latest months, because the American marque continues to ramp up preparations for its extremely anticipated debut in F1.
Revealed: Seven names on Cadillac F1 shortlist
Mick Schumacher
Requested if former Haas driver Mick Schumacher is in rivalry, given he has been desperate to make a comeback after switching to the World Endurance Championship with Alpine, Cadillac group principal Graeme Lowdon informed the Excessive Efficiency podcast: “Yeah, we’re speaking to Mick.”
One other critical candidate is believed to be 10-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, who brings expertise from 246 race begins with Williams, Mercedes, and Alfa Romeo/Sauber.
“Sure, I do know Valtteri very well,” mentioned Lowdon concerning the Finn.
Nonetheless, Lowdon made it clear that he’s not searching for drivers who simply wish to come again to F1 to show a degree, insisting Cadillac has completely different expectations from its line-up.
“I feel they [Schumacher and Bottas] have each proved a complete bunch of issues,” he defined.
“Everybody desires to show one thing else once more. I by no means take a look at that as the most important motivator. Our group just isn’t there as a automobile for somebody to show a degree.
“Our group is there to supply a place on the pitch, when you like, for somebody to show what they’ll do for certain. However it’s not a automobile to form of present the world to show a degree or no matter.
“Drivers are there to show the most effective they probably can for the group and they need to be motivated for the group round them as effectively. I am much less eager on individuals who form of wish to show a private level.”
Together with Bottas, the opposite most probably possibility for Cadillac is one other F1 dropout, Sergio Perez.
Perez’s performances at Crimson Bull have been made to look higher by the struggles of his successors, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
“Sure, we’re speaking [to Perez],” confirmed Lowdon.
Whereas hiring a former F1 driver with expertise is preferable, Lowdon can be open to the prospect of Cadillac plucking a driver from junior ranks and nurturing them.
“There are a bunch of younger [drivers]. There are some actually good F2 drivers, Felipe Drugovich, Fred Vesti. The checklist form of goes on.
He added: “Arvid [Lindblad] is a very good man. He has executed an excellent job. He has Crimson Bull [as his backer].”
It’s no secret that Cadillac desires to have an American driver in its line-up, no less than in the long run.
Points like superlicence factors and a scarcity of grand prix expertise imply it’s unlikely a driver from the US could be making the leap subsequent 12 months, however such a prospect hasn’t been utterly dominated out.
Requested if he would contemplate Andretti’s IndyCar star Colton for the function, Lowdon added: “Yeah, however once more, completely different drivers have gotten completely different attributes and positives and in addition restrictions as effectively.
“In Colton’s case, it is the superlicence that is the difficulty, however he can definitely drive a race automobile.”
