Cadillac Formula One team principal Graeme Lowdon has revealed significant interest from drivers for racing full-time next year when the American outfit officially enters the F1 grid. 2026 also marks the year when the sport steps into a new era of regulations.
Cadillac received the green light to enter F1 in March this year as the 11th team. However, the outfit had begun its preparations to enter the sport long ago, given the mountainous task of starting a new team from scratch.
While Cadillac seems to be getting there in terms of hiring key resources and the development of its 2026 car, the team’s driver lineup has yet to be finalized.
Lowdon revealed the names of seven drivers with whom Cadillac has engaged.
Sergio Perez
Lowdon confirmed ongoing talks with Sergio Perez, who has been away from F1 after Red Bull parted ways with him following the 2024 season. Perez recently confirmed that he wanted to return to F1 only if a project seemed interesting to him. Lowdon’s confirmation could hint at Perez’s return to the premier class of motorsport, especially given the extensive experience he brings with him to a new team like Cadillac.
Colton Herta
Andretti’s IndyCar star Colton Herta is a young talent that Cadillac has expressed interest in. However, there remains one hindrance to his potential Cadillac signing. Herta’s superlicence does not have enough points for an entry into F1. When Lowdon was asked if he was considering Herta, he said:
“Yeah, but again, different drivers have got different attributes and positives and also restrictions as well. In Colton’s case, it’s the superlicence that’s the issue, but he can certainly drive a race car.”
Mick Schumacher
Former Haas driver Mick Schumacher last raced in F1 in 2022, before becoming a Mercedes reserve driver in 2023. He remained on the sidelines for a year before racing for Alpine’s World Endurance Championship team last year. However, Schumacher has expressed his keen desire to return to F1 on several occasions. Speaking about the contact with the German driver, Lowdon said: “Yeah, we are talking to Mick.”
Valtteri Bottas
Bottas became a Mercedes reserve driver after racing for Sauber until the end of the 2024 season. The Finnish driver brings a wealth of F1 experience to the table, given his successful full-time stint with Mercedes from 2017 to 2022 alongside Lewis Hamilton. Lowdon acknowledged talks with Bottas but revealed one trait in drivers he wouldn’t prefer. He said:
“Yes, I know Valtteri really well.
“I think they [Schumacher and Bottas] have both proved a whole bunch of things.
“Everyone wants to prove something else again. I never look at that as the biggest motivator. Our team is not there as a vehicle for someone to prove a point.
“Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, if you like, for someone to prove what they can do for sure. But it’s not a vehicle to kind of show the world to prove a point or whatever.
“Drivers are there to prove the best they possibly can for the team and they should be motivated for the team around them as well. I’m less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point.”
Felipe Drugovich, Fred Vesti, and Arvid Lindblad
Lowdon isn’t limiting his options to just experienced drivers. He also named three drivers from junior racing categories who have impressed him. He said:
“There are a bunch of young [drivers]. There are some really good F2 drivers, Felipe Drugovich, Fred Vesti. The list kind of goes on.
“Arvid [Lindblad] is a really good guy. He has done a good job. He has Red Bull [as his backer].”
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