The Cadillac F1 Graeme Lowon’s boss says the team will choose only one American driver “in merit” after narrowing a short list before their first season in 2026.
Motor General-backed entry will join the network next year as an 11th team of F1, but they will not yet decide on their driver formation.
Lowdon, who will be the director of the team, revealed that Cadillac has a “very good idea” of who they want to sign.
“We have narrowed that little. But we are out of synchronization with the rest of the teams at the moment,” he said Sky Sports F1.
“We were effectively kept out of the last round of driver discussions because we don’t have an entry, so we are in a slightly unusual position. But it also means there is a much less competitive tension and we can take some time.
“Clearly, the number one advantage for us as a team is to have something for the driver to run and here is very focused on the width of the management gang.”
Sergio Perez is expected to be one of the candidates to travel for the team after he crashed by Red Bull at the end of last season and is spending a year outside.
Likewise, Valtteri Bottas is a spare driver for Mercedes after discharging him from Sauber. Both drivers will offer cadillac experience, which is important for a new team.
Given a key factor after the team’s acceptance in the sport is their perceived ability to increase the popularity of F1 in the United States, they are expected to sign at least one American driver for their debut campaign.
Indycar star Colton Herta was linked to a F1 country three years ago and would be the most visible American driver to join Cadillac. However, Lowdon was prone to stress leaders will not be resolved for nationality.
“I think everyone would like to see an American driver on an American team with an American motorcycle in one stage,” he said.
“But, too, this is a world championship, we have to choose everyone in merit and, as we have said before, there is nothing that stops a girl or a boy with an American passport leading for an American Formula 1 team.
“We will make merit. If the driver happens to be an American, then I think it’s something fans would really like, but this is a world champion, we have to respect it, and we want to be as competitive. So we can all choose in the team with merit.”
Graeme Lowon was the director of the old manor team who left F1 at the end of 2016
Are Cadillac in a race against time to be ready for 2026?
The Car General Motors’ giant and the US group Twg Global have formed the entrance to Cadillac and the chief executive of the Motorsport Dan Towriss said it will be a “challenge” to be ready for the 2026 season, which is decided to start testing before the season in late January.
Lowdon said “a race against time sounds dramatic” even though the team is also building a new American manufacturing base in Indiana, means that work will have to be done elsewhere.
“As everyone knows, they will allocate to the first Grand Prix next year and we have to be there. We can’t go out a week later and make the race after all others,” Lowon said.
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Ted Kravitz, Karun Chandhok and Bernie Collins reacted to the news that the Cadillac team will join an extended network from 2026 and who can be their drivers
“So we have a timeline. The teams have a misdemeanor clock in every garage for which I am aware of TV monitors and this shows when the start of the session is happening, and we have them in every room of our many factories at the moment counting in the first prix 2026.
“So there are a few days there and it is to remind everyone that time tends to accelerate when you are against a strong object.
The European F1 season begins with Grand Prix Emilia Romagna on May 16-18, live in Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – without contract, cancel at any time
