In March, Cadillac was officially approved to become the 11th team on the Formula One grid. For months, there have been speculations about which drivers could fill the two coveted seats. From heroes of other racing series to those who already had their shot at the ‘pinnacle of motorsports’, many names have been linked with the new team. If rumours are to be believed, the final decision has already been made and will very soon be released to the public.
Sergio Perez’s exit from F1 has been loud and chaotic. He drove for Red Bull, but couldn’t seem to match the impressive results of his teammate, Max Verstappen. Despite extending his contract at the beginning of the 2024 season, he left the team when it ended.
He is now a free agent and could be the perfect addition to Cadillac. Perez has been a part of F1 since 2011. He has the experience to help a new team find its footing in the treacherous waters of the sport. On top of that, he is simply a good driver. Having won six Grand Prix throughout his career, he is no stranger to putting in the effort and patiently waiting for the result.
There is also a monetary incentive to signing the Mexican driver. The people of Latin America are known for being passionate about their drivers and supporting them loudly and proudly. During his time at Red Bull, Perez attracted numerous fans and sponsors. Both are things that new teams desperately need if they want to survive their first few seasons.
According to the rumours, the man who has already signed the contract for the second Cadillac seat is Valtteri Bottas. Similarly to Perez, he has been a part of the F1 grid for quite a few years. He also managed to win 10 Grand Prix throughout his career.
Bottas has previously stated that he is not done with the sport quite yet. He has also expressed interest in the Cadillac project. Having a driver who was a part of Mercedes’ incredible run of championship-winning seasons would be a huge advantage for the team. Bottas is not only a great driver but also very experienced in the more technical aspects of the sport. He will be able to help Cadillac with developing its car and making sure that they are moving in the right direction.
If the rumours are wrong and Cadillac has not yet chosen it’s 2026 lineup, what other names could we see announced in the upcoming months? The two that are mentioned the most often during various speculations are Zhou Guanyu and Mick Schumacher.
Zhou has previously driven in F1 for Kick Sauber, and, coincidentally, his teammate was none other than Bottas. After the 2024 season, he was let go by the team and became one of Ferrari’s reserve drivers. His big advantage is that Cadillac’s team principal, Graeme Lowdon, already knows him quite well. They worked together throughout Zhou’s time at Kick Sauber.
The young Schumacher is also eager to make his return to F1. He lost his Haas seat at the end of the 2022 season and, since then, spent some time as Mercedes’ reserve driver. He is currently focusing on his endurance racing career, but has expressed a desire to return to the world of F1. Cadillac could provide him with the perfect opportunity to do so.
Despite people’s claims that a decision has been made, there is no official announcement regarding Cadillac’s 2026 lineup. The drivers’ futures still hang in the air, and only time will tell who will return to the F1 grid with a shining, new team.
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