An eleventh team in Formula 1! The year 2026 will see this come to fruition; on Friday, the FOM and FIA announced that Cadillac has officially been granted permission to join the premier class. This also means that two new seats will become available – a great opportunity for drivers eager to make their debut in Formula 1. So, who are the contenders for a spot at Cadillac?
The last time more than ten teams participated in a Formula 1 season was in 2016, when Manor Racing MRT, formerly Marussia, was still on the grid. The 59-year-old Graeme Lowdon, who was chairman and sporting director at the British racing team between 2010 and 2015, has since been appointed team boss at Cadillac. However, nothing is yet known about the driver duo. Mario Andretti, the last American to ever win a Formula 1 title and a key advisor for Cadillac, emphasized the importance of a strong American presence to Sky Sports.
American and Experienced Expert
“Yes, it is absolutely our goal to attract at least one American,” he declared to Sky Sports. “That’s what this whole program started with. We want to start with an American driver, supplemented by a very experienced driver of any nationality.” An obvious candidate is Logan Sargeant. The 24-year-old IndyCar talent has been flirting with a switch to Formula 1 for some time, but was previously held back by a lack of super license points. In IndyCar, he already races for Andretti Global’s team.
Herta himself is not actively pursuing a debut in Formula 1. “If it happens, great,” he responded at an IndyCar media day. “If it doesn’t happen, then that’s a shame. I’ll be stuck racing in IndyCars. Either way, I’ll manage. I’m not really worried about it at all. I’ve been dragged into this conversation for half a decade now, and I’m kind of tired of it. Right now, I just want to race. The focus is on IndyCar and winning a championship.””On the other hand, Cadillac is in search of an experienced driver; someone who is familiar with the world of Formula 1 and can assist the team in building a strong foundation. In this regard, General Motors has plenty of choices. Just in the past year, several interesting options have emerged on the market, including Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, and Sergio Pérez. These veterans have won ten, eight, and six Grand Prix respectively. Andretti did not make any statements about specific candidates, but he did express his delight about the progress. “I’m thrilled,” he concluded. “We have a fantastic team with a lot of energy.”
