Lowdon: Cadillac could sign an American F1 driver – but only on merit

Cadillac workforce principal Graeme Lowdon has said that the incoming Components 1 squad will choose its first driver line-up on advantage – 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 workforce from 2026.

However preparations have lengthy been below approach to get the workforce 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 positively choose on advantage,” stated Lowdon. “Components 1, it is not a playground, that is the head of world motorsport.

“I believe by way of timing, it is type of slightly bit odd as a result of we’re out of sync with the opposite groups, we weren’t within the driver market throughout the pretty essential final spherical, so sure drivers are tied up for sure durations.

“Fortunately for us, there are lots 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 vital for us to speak to quite a few potential candidates. Will we see very proficient 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 cellphone’s definitely been busy. What’s slightly bit tough due to the scenario that we’re in as a brand new workforce, 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 supply extraordinarily good credentials to be in Components 1 or to be in Components 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 convey expertise to the Cadillac venture. Zhou specifically is a reputation of word given Lowdon makes up a part of the Ferrari reserve driver’s administration workforce.

“It is slightly 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 Group Kick Sauber, with Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Group Kick Sauber

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

“I believe Zhou’s carried out an exceptionally good job below tough circumstances and what makes it fairly helpful for me is he does 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 isn’t any favouritism in any explicit course in direction of him or some other driver that we could have involvement with on the grid.

“We’re there to do a job, so we’ll choose drivers on advantage. 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 plain query is whether or not we’ll have American drivers and personally, I see no motive why an American driver cannot be chosen on advantage as nicely,” he stated.

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

“I do not see any explicit drawback. I do not envisage any explicit drawback on that entrance and as I stated earlier than, driver choice will certainly be on advantage. What I am attempting to stress is simply because somebody’s American doesn’t suggest that they cannot be a great Components 1 driver.”

Colton Herta, Andretti World w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda

Picture by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photos

One such driver linked with a seat is IndyCar’s Colton Herta at Andretti World, which has been concerned with the Common 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 does not have the required variety of superlicence factors and if that had been to stay the case, then that is clearly an obstacle for him,” stated Lowdon.

“We won’t 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 dearth of being on the threshold for the superlicence in any means have an effect on his means to drive a race automobile? No.

“He is extremely proficient, so it is not shock information that we might be trying to Colton alongside a complete bunch of different drivers as nicely.

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