Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon has confirmed that driver selection for their upcoming 2026 debut season will be based strictly on merit, as the team works through a shortened list of potential candidates.
The new entry, backed by General Motors, is set to join the Formula 1 grid as the 11th team next year but has not yet finalized its driver pairing.
Lowdon stated that Cadillac has a “fairly good idea” of who they intend to sign.
“We`ve narrowed it down quite a bit,” he commented, noting that the team is currently “out of sync” with the rest of the grid`s driver market timelines. He explained that because their entry wasn`t confirmed earlier, they were excluded from the last round of driver discussions. While this puts them in an “unusual position,” it also means there is less competitive pressure, allowing them more time for evaluation.
Lowdon emphasized that the team`s primary focus at the moment is on developing and preparing the car itself for the 2026 season.
Experienced drivers such as Sergio Perez, who is taking a year out after being dropped by Red Bull, and Valtteri Bottas, a reserve driver, are considered potential candidates. Both could provide crucial experience for a brand-new team entering the sport.
Given that a significant factor in the team`s admission to F1 was its potential to boost the sport`s popularity in the United States, many expect at least one American driver to be part of the debut lineup.
IndyCar star Colton Herta, who was previously linked to a potential F1 seat, is a notable American driver often mentioned. However, Lowdon was keen to stress that nationality is not the deciding factor in selection.
“I think everyone would love to see an American driver in an American team with an American engine at some stage,” Lowdon remarked. He firmly added, “But, also, this is a world championship, we have to select everyone on merit… We will select on merit.”
He reiterated that while it would be popular with fans if a talented driver happened to be American, the team`s commitment is to the world championship`s standards and competitiveness, meaning all personnel, including drivers, must be chosen based on their ability alone.
Is Cadillac Facing a Tight Deadline for 2026 Readiness?
The joint venture between General Motors and US group TWG Global forms the Cadillac team. TWG Motorsport chief executive Dan Towriss has acknowledged that being fully ready for the 2026 season, starting with pre-season testing in late January, presents a “challenge.”
Lowdon downplayed the notion of a “race against time” as overly dramatic, even though the team is simultaneously building a new manufacturing base in Indiana, requiring operations across multiple sites.
He underscored the non-negotiable deadline of the first Grand Prix, stating clearly, “As everybody knows… we have to be there. We can`t turn up a week later and do the race behind everyone else.”
Lowdon explained that countdown clocks are displayed in their facilities to serve as a constant reminder that the deadline is fixed and time moves quickly when working towards a hard target. He concluded, “So there`s a few days on there… We`re in the game; we`re not racing on the track yet but we`re racing in the factory.”
