Cadillac is all set to become the 11th team on the F1 grid come 2026. An eleventh team’s addition to the sport means that two more drivers will now have the opportunity to showcase their skills among the best drivers in the world. But who are some of the names in the running?
The rumor mill is in overdrive, with names ranging from seasoned paddock veterans to promising newcomers being linked to the Cadillac seat. Here is a look at 5 drivers the American team could potentially look at for a seat in 2026.
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez is currently the leading contender to take one of Cadillac’s race seats in 2026. The Mexican reportedly met with representatives of the American team in Miami recently, to discuss a potential deal.
Perez last raced in F1 in 2024 with Red Bull Racing. The 35-year-old’s experience of 281 race starts in F1 could be invaluable for the new team. The Mexican also brings significant commercial appeal, another potential reason why Cadillac may see him as an ideal cornerstone for their debut campaign.
Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas is reportedly also in talks with Cadillac, for the same race seat as Sergio Perez, per Crash.net. The team is seemingly looking to pair a veteran with a younger face, to lead the project.
The 10-time F1 race-winner is currently Mercedes’ reserve driver. The former Kick Sauber driver recently expressed his desire to return to the F1 grid, claiming he is not done with the sport yet.
Zhou Guanyu
Another name linked with the Cadillac F1 race seat is Valterri Bottas’ former Sauber teammate, Zhou Guanyu. The Chinese international is currently Ferrari’s reserve driver in F1.
The driver also brings significant commercial backing from the Chinese market. Cadillac also has ties with Ferrari, as their power unit suppliers. These factors could strengthen Zhou’s case as a valuable option for the team.
Colton Herta
Colton Herta is an American race-car driver, currently competing in the IndyCar series. The 25-year-old is the front-running name, if Cadillac looks to put an American face into one of their race seats.
The driver currently races for Andretti’s IndyCar team, which shares strong ties with the Andretti F1 outfit. TWG Global, now the parent company of both Cadillac’s F1 team and Andretti Global, oversees all operations under a unified structure.
Mick Schumacher
Mick Schumacher is another driver linked with the Cadillac F1 seat. Michael Schumacher’s son is currently racing in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine.
Schumacher reportedly also held talks with Cadillac in Miami earlier this year, according to The Sun. The German is a fan-favorite, but failed to prove himself at Haas during his two year stint in F1. This fact could potentially work against him, in his pursuit to return back to F1.
There are also a few other former F1 drivers in the mix, who hold an outside chance of getting the nod. Daniel Ricciardo has been mentioned as a potential choice for Cadillac, though this is unlikely, with the Aussie driver seemingly not keen on a return to the sport. Kevin Magnussen is another driver with loads of F1 experience.
