Cadillac prepares for F1 debut, set to choose from six drivers for 2026

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

In anticipation of their debut in Formula 1 next year, Cadillac has shortlisted at least six potential drivers and plans to make their selection based on merit, according to team principal Graeme Lowdon.

Last week, the General Motors-backed team received final approval for their entry as the sport's 11th team on the grid. This milestone has paved the way for discussions about their future driver lineup.

"The obvious question is whether we'll have American drivers and personally I see no reason why an American driver can't be selected on merit," Lowdon stated during a video call with reporters. "The overriding objective is merit."

Potential candidates for the seats include experienced F1 drivers currently without contracts, such as Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Pérez, and Mick Schumacher. American IndyCar star Colton Herta is also frequently mentioned as a possibility.

"Do we see experienced, capable drivers... Very talented drivers, who currently aren't on the grid? Yes, we do," Lowdon said. "We are going to be quite busy talking to a few people. My phone has certainly been busy, that's for sure. There are easily half a dozen, if not more, candidates out there who offer extremely good credentials to be in Formula 1 or to be in Formula 1 again."

However, Herta's participation depends on whether he can secure a super-licence. "He's an incredibly talented driver. So, for sure, it's not shock news that we would be looking to consider Colton alongside a whole bunch of other drivers as well," Lowdon commented. "He won't be the last driver where there's some uncertainty due to super-licence points, but we just have to live with that. That's a regulation. We just have to respect it."

Lowdon has had previous affiliations with Zhou, having aided in his management. Zhou is set to be a reserve driver for Cadillac's initial engine partner Ferrari in 2025. "I think Zhou's done an exceptionally good job under difficult circumstances over the last couple of years," Lowdon remarked. "He doesn't necessarily need to explain the background of his abilities because I've had a front row seat to see all that. There's the correct checks and balances in place so there's no favoritism in any particular direction towards him or any other driver that we may have involvement with. There's some really good ones out there, Zhou included."

As Cadillac prepares for their Formula 1 debut, the focus remains on choosing the most deserving drivers, potentially marking a significant shake-up in the driver lineup for the 2026 season.

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