Cadillac F1 drivers: New 2026 workforce’s talks ongoing with potential signings amid Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas hyperlinks | F1 Information
The brand new Cadillac F1 workforce are “advancing discussions” with a “variety of drivers” as they weigh up the line-up for his or her debut 2026 season, says workforce principal Graeme Lowdon.
Cadillac are becoming a member of the grid because the eleventh workforce subsequent season, with the venture launched in partnership with American automotive big Normal Motors and TWG World, who even have pursuits in sporting entities together with Chelsea and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The addition of two new seats on to the F1 grid from subsequent yr has, in line with Lowdon, led to Cadillac being contacted by “a protracted record of very, excellent drivers who’re eager” since their entry was confirmed in March.
After shedding their respective locations on the grid on the finish of final season, a number of race winners Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are regarded as among the many main contenders, whereas former Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu and Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich have additionally been linked with a seat.
In an unique interview with Sky Sports activities Information from their UK base at Silverstone forward of this weekend’s British Grand Prix because the countdown continues to their maiden race subsequent March, Lowdon mentioned: “The great factor is we all know a number of the drivers who’re on the market.
“Each the youthful guys who’ve been arising by way of Method 2 and in addition the extra established drivers who’ve a number of Method 1 expertise. We discuss to those folks the entire time and we try to spend time within the paddock as properly.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are two of the main contenders for Cadillac seats
“The primary focus to this point has been constructing the automobile. I believe if we attain Melbourne and there was no automobile for a driver to drive, then no one would thank us in any respect.
“However that mentioned, we’re advancing discussions with plenty of drivers.
“We cannot be asserting something at Silverstone as such. However, I’d say, watch this area.”
Did Bottas’ Cadillac put up have any which means?
Bottas, who’s presently in a 3rd driver position at Mercedes after shedding his Sauber race seat on the finish of final season, triggered a stir on social media final week when he posted a video of himself subsequent to a Cadillac street automobile and posed the query: “Can we like this seat?”
However requested if there was any wider significance, Lowdon mentioned: “I noticed that put up – properly, it exhibits he is purchased a Cadillac!
“However by way of deciding on the drivers, there’s an actual mixture of abilities and we’re very fortunate on the minute. We’re out of synchronisation with the opposite groups at current, we have got somewhat little bit of time and we will spend that point ensuring that once we do announce the driving force line-up, it will be the appropriate one.
“We hope that the followers shall be excited by it as properly, and hopefully excited by the truth that there is a new workforce on the grid that they will observe.”
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Again in March, F1 and the FIA confirmed that Cadillac have been set to hitch the F1 grid from 2026
‘No new workforce has any proper to be wherever aside from the again’ – Lowdon on embracing the problem
On the countdown to their first race weekend in Melbourne on March 6-8, Lowdon mentioned: “It is a quantity that is on the wall of each workplace that we have now. We have now a countdown clock, which exhibits the time between now and free apply one in Melbourne, so everybody’s aware of the of the timeline.
“We’re on course.
“We have been within the wind tunnel with a ’26 automobile for fairly a while.”
And Lowdon, who beforehand held a administration position in F1 on the former Manor/Marussia workforce in 2010-2015, mentioned of the problem of competing at motorsport’s high degree: “It is tremendous tough. It is intensely aggressive, it actually, actually is.
“There’s a regulation change so we’re but to see how different groups will adapt to that however no new workforce coming into Method 1 has any proper, in actuality, to be wherever aside from the again of the grid. So clearly our problem is to try to transfer ahead and we have got all the appropriate elements.
“While we’re very sensible in regards to the process in hand… I believe it is very important have ambition and you may see from TWG and from Cadillac, this can be a workforce that does have imaginative and prescient and ambition to maneuver ahead. However we all know how tough that’s.”
Subsequent up within the 2025 Method 1 season is the large one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – stay on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Showcase with protection from Thursday to Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.