Cadillac is prepared to join the F1 grid in the 2026 season as the 11th team. The confirmation from Formula One Management and the FIA came in earlier this year, confirming their entry onto the grid. They are set to be the second American team after Haas. This would be one of the biggest team changes after Audi’s acquisition of Sauber.
Even though the team has confirmed to join, they still haven’t finalized or publicized any decision regarding their driver lineup. New teams usually reveal their lineup quite early; however, that is not the case with Cadillac. Evidently, the team will be giving opportunities to two more drivers than the current grid, making the overall racing scenario more interesting.
Multiple names have been associated with the team so far. These also include drivers that are not part of the Formula grid, like Colton Herta. He currently races in the IndyCar Series in the US. But there seems to be no confirmation or reports that he will join the team. That has pretty much been the case with every other driver.
Let us look at a few options that Cadillac will have to choose from.
Top 4 drivers Cadillac could choose from for their 2026 F1 lineup
It is important to note that a new team like Cadillac would be looking for more experienced and consistent drivers. This is because they might not be so competitive right from the beginning. This would make it a better field for the experienced ones to help build the team from the bottom.
#1 Valtteri Bottas
Bottas is one of the most experienced drivers available in the market. His stint with Williams Racing between 2013 and 2016 helped him set a firm foot on the grid. Mercedes then signed him in 2017, which was his career peak. Racing alongside Lewis Hamilton, Bottas won quite a few races and was on the podium in almost every other race. This consistency and experience make him a suitable candidate for the team. He has been out of racing this year but is still connected with Mercedes.
Moreover, he recently made a social media post where he was praising one of Cadillac’s road car’s ‘seats.’ Many understood it to be a possible hint towards his move to the team.
#2 Sergio Perez
The Mexican driver had been a part of the grid since the 2011 season with Sauber. Although he wasn’t one of the strongest ones, Sergio Perez managed to deliver quite consistently. His peak was with Red Bull Racing, winning five races between 2021 and 2024. The team sacked him after the 2024 season, but he hasn’t lost all hope in racing. He is speculated as a candidate for the other seat with the American team, considering both his experience and consistency.
#3 Guanyu Zhou
It is also quite possible that Cadillac might pair an experienced and a young driver. If they manage to build a car that is capable of reaching the points, the younger driver could deliver. Guanyu Zhou then becomes a candidate. He raced between 2022 and 2024 for Sauber (Alfa Romeo) and finished in points a couple of times. This was enough considering the team’s difficult position at the time. He is currently associated with Scuderia Ferrari.
#4 Mick Schumacher
Schumacher was part of the F1 grid for two seasons in 2021 and 2022 with Haas. The team was in extremely poor form at the time, and so he only had two-point finishes throughout those years. However, one might argue that their performance was much better in the 2022 season. He was associated with Mercedes but then moved to the World Endurance Championship. He raced with Alpine in the series and has been delivering decent performances. Although he isn’t one of the most promising drivers, a second chance on the F1 grid might do the trick for him and for Cadillac.
