Jess
Cadillac back on the road, we takin’ route 44…Perhaps a United States Grand Prix team reveal?
Who will be their drivers? It looks like a three-way showdown. Will skill triumph over money?
In 2026, F1 will feature eleven teams, expanding from the long-standing 20 grid spots by adding two more. Cadillac’s entry has sparked numerous questions, with the most pressing being who will drive for them.
Reports have surfaced throughout the season detailing Cadillac’s shortlist of candidates, which falls into two categories: experienced drivers and young talents. This approach mirrors what many teams adopt when entering Formula One, as seen with Sauber/Audi signing veteran Nico Hülkenberg, who has been in F1 since 2010, alongside rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who clinched last year’s F2 championship, outpacing RB’s Isack Hadjar.
Back in 2010, Mercedes-Benz signed seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher to compete alongside the less experienced Nico Rosberg. It’s reasonable to think that Cadillac aims to replicate Mercedes’ success by following a similar strategy.
So, which seasoned driver and young prodigy will Cadillac choose?
The answer hinges on various factors, particularly which ones Cadillac prioritises. While experience is valuable, the nature of that experience matters. A driver without wins or podium finishes may not hold as much appeal compared to their competitors.
Experienced Candidates
Sergio Perez stands out as a top candidate due to his ability to meet many criteria that teams consider when hiring drivers. With over a decade of experience across top and mid-tier teams, Perez secured his first win with Racing Point in 2020 and consistently outperforms the car’s capabilities.
His most recent stint with Red Bull, which dominated the 2023 season, saw him finish second in the championship and secure multiple wins, providing him with invaluable experience to share with a new team. As Red Bull faces internal disputes and personnel losses, Cadillac could seize the opportunity to bring Perez and other Red Bull employees on board.
Additionally, Perez boasts major sponsors, including billionaire Carlos Slim and Kit-Kat, making him an attractive choice for Cadillac, especially given their interest in the Latin American market.
Valtteri Bottas, while slightly less experienced than Perez, may benefit from his relative youth. Like Perez, Bottas has competed with the best during Mercedes’ dominant years, finishing second in the championship and accumulating several wins and podiums. However, his sponsorships don’t match the scale of Perez’s.
Bottas recently teased his potential seat at Cadillac on social media, although we hasten to add that he appeared to do a similar stunt with an Audi car last year, before he departed from Sauber.
Fun Fact! Bottas will have to serve a five-grid-place drop penalty due to causing a collision in Abu Dhabi last year and subsequently retiring, leading to the grid drop penalty.
Both drivers would provide a solid foundation for a young, inexperienced F1 team. Yet, the allure of youth remains strong in F1 today.
The Rookies
The years 2020 to 2022 challenged the reputation of rookies. While Lando Norris and George Russell thrived in 2019, Alex Albon struggled at Red Bull, losing his seat to Perez at the end of 2020. Haas’s decision to field two rookies resulted in disastrous outcomes, nearly jeopardising the team’s newfound profitability. Consequently, F1 teams began prioritising experienced drivers over F2 graduates, leading to Perez joining Red Bull, Fernando Alonso moving to Aston Martin, Nyck de Vries heading to AlphaTauri, and Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen returning to a chastened Haas.
However, the narrative has shifted following Oscar Piastri’s successful rookie season in 2023 and Ollie Bearman’s impressive performances throughout the 2024 season. They demonstrated that a willingness to learn can sometimes outweigh experience.
Now, the grid features four rookies aged between 18 and 20, lowering the average age of the F1 paddock to its lowest in recent years. Younger drivers offer potential over experience, as their fresh energy makes them promising candidates for future success, and they come at a lower cost!
Perhaps Cadillac is eyeing this year’s F2 drivers. Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad recently secured a Super License and is enjoying a stellar F2 season. If Red Bull doesn’t have a seat for him next season, he might seek opportunities with other teams.
Zhou Guanyu, while not a rookie, remains relatively young in F1 with only three seasons under his belt. He enjoys significant backing from Chinese businesses due to his status as the first Chinese F1 driver. Combining his sponsorships with Perez’s could enhance Cadillac’s financial success, a crucial factor in F1.
Zhou earned Sauber’s only points in 2024, totalling four; an impressive feat considering the car’s struggles. Additionally, Cadillac will rely on Ferrari engines until 2029, and Ferrari-affiliated customer teams often recruit drivers with ties to Ferrari, as seen with Charles Leclerc at Alfa Romeo and Ollie Bearman at Haas. Zhou currently serves as Ferrari’s reserve and development driver!
Ultimately, we won’t know Cadillac’s driver choices until they announce them, perhaps at the American Grand Prix in Texas or the glitzy Las Vegas event.
Until then, the question remains: “Is you is or you ain’t? (Is you is or you ain’t?)” – Beyoncé | Cowboy Carter.
