Cadillac`s F1 team principal, Graeme Lowdon, has stated unequivocally that the squad will select its drivers for the 2026 season based solely on merit, despite having already narrowed down a list of potential candidates ahead of their debut.
The team, backed by General Motors, is set to join the Formula 1 grid next year as the eleventh competitor, but their driver lineup remains undecided.
Lowdon indicated that Cadillac has a “fairly good idea” of which drivers they are considering for the new entry.
“We`ve narrowed it down quite a bit,” he told Sky Sports F1. “But we`re out of sync with the rest of the teams at the moment.” He explained that not having an entry previously kept them out of the most recent driver market discussions, putting them in a “slightly unusual position.” However, he added, this also means there`s “a lot less competitive tension, and we can take a little bit of time.”
Lowdon stressed that the team`s foremost priority is developing the car. “Quite obviously, the number one priority for us as a team is to have something for the driver to drive, and that is where a lot of the management bandwidth is focused,” he said.
Sergio Perez is widely considered a strong candidate for a seat, particularly after his expected departure from Red Bull at the end of last season, potentially leading to a year away from the sport. Similarly, Valtteri Bottas, who became a reserve driver for Mercedes after leaving Sauber, could also be in contention. Both drivers offer valuable experience, which is crucial for a brand new team.
Given that a significant reason for Cadillac`s inclusion in F1 is their potential to boost the sport`s popularity in the United States, there`s widespread expectation that at least one American driver will be signed for their inaugural season.
IndyCar frontrunner Colton Herta, who was linked to an F1 drive three years ago, is the most prominent American driver considered a likely candidate for Cadillac. Nevertheless, Lowdon was firm in stating that driver selection will not be based on nationality.
“I think everyone would love to see an American driver in an American team with an American engine at some stage,” he acknowledged.
“But, also, this is a world championship; we have to select everyone on merit. And, as we`ve said before, there`s nothing stopping a girl or boy with an American passport driving for an American Formula 1 team.”
He reiterated, “We will select on merit. If the driver happens to be an American, then I think it`s something the fans would really like, but this is a world championship, we`ve got to respect it, and we want to be as competitive as we can. So we choose everyone in the team on merit.”
Cadillac`s 2026 Readiness Timeline
General Motors and US partner TWG Global are behind the Cadillac F1 entry. Dan Towriss, chief executive of TWG Motorsport, admitted it will be a “challenge” to be fully prepared for the start of the 2026 season, which typically begins with pre-season testing in late January.
Lowdon described the phrase “a race against time” as sounding dramatic, despite the team simultaneously establishing a new manufacturing base in Indiana, which requires significant work to be conducted elsewhere.
“As everybody knows, they`ll be tuning into the first Grand Prix next year, and we have to be there. We can`t turn up a week later and do the race behind everyone else,” Lowdon stated.
“So we have a deadline. Teams have a countdown clock in every garage that I`m aware of on the TV monitors, and it shows when the start of the session is happening, and we`ve got those in every room of our multiple factories at the moment counting down to the first Grand Prix of 2026.”
He concluded, “So there are a few days on there, and it`s to remind everyone that time tends to accelerate when you`re up against a solid object. So it`s just there to remind everyone, and it`s a good thing as well. We`re in the game; we`re not racing on the track yet, but we`re racing in the factory.”
