Beyond the new regulations, one of the major changes we will see on track next year will be the presence of eleven teams on the grid. 2026 will indeed mark the debut of Cadillac in F1, and the American team has set its sights on a Ferrari driver.
The team recently received the final approval from the FIA. The Federation had to approve the technical and financial project presented by Cadillac to ensure the necessary reassurances before expanding the number of cars on track to twenty-two.
For the “new” team, the fun part begins now. Team principal Graeme Lowdon has spoken about the considerations regarding the driver lineup for 2026, which were on hold until the recent green light.
One of the main candidates for one of the seats appears to be Guanyu Zhou, who was recently appointed as Ferrari’s reserve driver. “Zhou has done an incredible job, despite being in far from favorable circumstances in recent years,” said Graeme Lowdon. “I don’t need much confirmation about him since I’ve had the chance to closely observe him.”
“It’s not about favoritism or anything else. I know his value and what he’s done in his career,” continued the Cadillac team principal. “When making our decisions, we will base them solely and exclusively on merit. F1 represents the pinnacle of motorsport, and we can’t afford to make mistakes. Fortunately, there are many great drivers on the market.”
“We’re a bit behind, but that’s because we didn’t have the chance to negotiate before confirming our entry on the grid. We’re looking for drivers who can help us grow,” Graeme Lowdon concluded.
As for the other seat, it is likely to be filled by an American driver. Andretti has confirmed this on several occasions, affirming that Cadillac plans to have at least one American driver. In this context, the leading candidate seems to be Colton Herta, although the presence of drivers like Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas on the market might lead Lowdon to make different decisions.
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