Cadillac F1 boss insists the team will only sign an American driver on merit

Cadillac crew principal Graeme Lowdon has acknowledged that the incoming Formulation 1 squad will choose its first driver line-up on benefit – and that it may nonetheless comprise an American.

F1 and the FIA formally approved the entry of General Motors on Friday which means its Cadillac model will turn out to be the grid’s eleventh crew from 2026.

However preparations have lengthy been below strategy to get the crew in form for its debut, but no official conversations with potential drivers may happen till the ratification final week.

There are a number of drivers at the moment with out race seats in F1 who’ve been linked to Cadillac, whereas the prospect of the US squad hiring a homegrown racer has additionally been mooted.

“We undoubtedly choose on benefit,” mentioned Lowdon. “Formulation 1, it is not a playground, that is the top of world motorsport.

“I feel when it comes to timing, it is sort of a bit bit odd as a result of we’re out of sync with the opposite groups, we weren’t within the driver market through the pretty important final spherical, so sure drivers are tied up for sure intervals.

“Fortunately for us, there are plenty of good drivers on the market, sadly, we have not been in a position to be within the driver market till the entry was confirmed.

“It is essential for us to speak to a variety of potential candidates. Will we see very gifted drivers who at the moment aren’t on the grid? Sure, we do.

“We’re going to be fairly busy speaking to some folks, my telephone’s definitely been busy. What’s a bit bit tough due to the state of affairs that we’re in as a brand new crew, the timeline is not as laid out because it usually is. It is usually fairly clear for all of us concerned within the driver negotiations.

“However there are simply half a dozen, if no more candidates on the market who provide extraordinarily good credentials to be in Formulation 1 or to be in Formulation 1 once more.”

The likes of Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu misplaced their seats in F1 on the finish of final season and would deliver expertise to the Cadillac challenge. Zhou specifically, is a reputation of notice given Lowdon makes up a part of the Ferrari reserve driver’s administration crew.

“It is a bit bit too early to go an excessive amount of into any element, as a result of it is solely now that we’re in a position to have significant conversations,” added Lowdon. “However for certain, we need to have drivers that may contribute to the general programme.

Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber, with Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

“I feel Zhou’s achieved an exceptionally good job below tough circumstances and what makes it truly fairly helpful for me is he would not essentially want to elucidate the background of his talents as a result of I’ve had a entrance row seat to see all that, in order that’s a profit.

“There’s the right checks and balances in place, so there is no favouritism in any specific path in direction of him or some other driver that we might have involvement with on the grid.

“We’re there to do a job, so we’ll choose drivers on benefit. There are some actually good ones on the market, Zhou included.”

Whereas loads of names have been bandied round, the concept of recruiting an American driver is one that won’t go away. Regardless of a dearth of US F1 drivers in latest instances, Lowdon didn’t rule out signing one for the 2026 season.

“The apparent query is whether or not we’ll have American drivers and personally, I see no cause why an American driver cannot be chosen on benefit as properly,” he mentioned.

“It is definitely one thing that the followers wish to see, and I see no cause why that may’t occur. However the overriding goal is benefit. We have a job to do right here.

“I do not see any specific drawback. I do not envisage any specific drawback on that entrance and as I mentioned earlier than, driver choice will certainly be on benefit.

“What I am making an attempt to emphasize is simply because somebody’s American doesn’t suggest that they can not be a superb Formulation 1 driver.”

Colton Herta, Andretti World w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda

Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Pictures

One such driver linked with a seat is IndyCar’s Colton Herta at Andretti World, which has been concerned with the Basic Motors F1 entry.

However the issue for the 24-year-old is that he at the moment doesn’t have sufficient factors on his superlicence to compete in F1.

“With regard to Colton, so he would not have the required variety of superlicence factors and if that have been to stay the case, then that is clearly an obstacle for him,” mentioned Lowdon.

“We will not select a driver that does not have the factors, that’s simply the true world that we dwell in and we simply should take that under consideration.

“Does his lack of reaching or the shortage of being on the threshold for the superlicence in any method have an effect on his capability to drive a race automobile? No.

“He is extremely gifted, so it is not shock information that we might be seeking to Colton alongside an entire bunch of different drivers as properly.

“He is not the one one truly in that state of affairs and he will not be the primary, he will not be the final driver the place there’s some uncertainty as a result of superlicence factors, however we simply should dwell with that. That is a regulation. We simply should respect it.”