Cadillac’s first F1 lineup: Which drivers are in contention?
- Chloe Buckley
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Written by Chloe Buckley, Edited by Meghana Sree
As we prepare for the second half of the 2025 Formula One season, the question of who joins the grid next year still lingers. In 2026, F1 will welcome American powerhouse Cadillac to the grid as its 11th team. Both drivers remain unknown, and the announcement of who it’ll be is highly anticipated among fans.
There have been numerous rumours flying around about who could possibly take the 21st and 22nd seats on the grid next season. From previous race winners to rising stars, several names have been linked to the debut of Cadillac.
It is likely that one of, if not both, the seats will go to an experienced F1 driver. This will give the team credibility from day one, having drivers who know the tracks inside-out and can give valuable insight into how things should be.
However, the names of various young drivers have been thrown into the mix too, making for an intriguing conversation about Cadillac’s lineup ahead of their debut in the sport.
Cadillac’s addition to F1 isn’t just any other team joining the grid. In recent years, the sport has exploded in popularity across the United States, opening the door for the all-American outfit to make its mark. So, who will the team pick to be the first drivers to launch their journey in F1?
1. Valtteri Bottas
The primary experienced driver who has been frequently linked with Cadillac is Valtteri Bottas. After leaving Sauber last year, the Finnish driver has been teasing his next steps in what could potentially be a return to F1.
Bottas was a huge contributor to Mercedes' prime years, winning five Constructors’ Championships with them. Competing in F1 from 2013-2024, Bottas has seriously impressive statistics with 10 Grand Prix wins, 67 podiums and 20 pole positions.
The Finn spoke to Sky Sports at the Hungarian Grand Prix about his future in F1 and potentially holding talks with teams, including Cadillac, about a seat next season:
“I want to be back on the grid [next year] and that’s my target. I hopefully want to get things sorted in August.”
He added: “There has been positive talks but now there will be a bit more time during August. There are no fixed dates as of yet but eventually things will be sorted.”
Additionally, Bottas has been teasing fans on the internet by posting videos of Cadillac road cars and claiming it has a “nice seat”. Whether he’s joking or hinting at something more remains unclear, but the veteran continues to be linked with Cadillac nonetheless.
2. Sergio Pérez
After parting ways with Red Bull in 2024, Sergio Pérez sat out the 2025 season, giving him the chance to spend more time with his family.
However, it has been heavily rumoured that Pérez could make his F1 return next season with Cadillac.
Several reports have claimed Pérez is in conversation with Cadillac and it’s likely he could be driving for the American giant next season.
Pérez is a six-time race winner in F1 with 14 years of experience in the sport under his belt. He was part of two Constructors’ Championship-winning campaigns with Red Bull too, in 2022 and 2023.
If Cadillac wants to prioritise drivers with experience, having someone like Pérez who knows his way around the cockpit could make the Mexican driver a realistic option.
Pérez has previously confirmed that he does want to return to F1, and with a new manager, speculation has grown to believe there could be a solid deal on the horizon.
3. Jak Crawford
Jak Crawford is a strong contender to make his way up to F1 next year, with his American roots and an impressive season in Formula 2 so far to boot – currently second in the Drivers’ Championship.
Crawford is a reserve driver for Andretti in Formula E, which means he has direct links to TWG, owners of both Cadillac F1 Team and Andretti Global.
Crawford has spoken to Autoweek on the possibility of joining F1 with Cadillac next year:
“Yeah, there have been talks, obviously there’s interest on both sides,” he said in the interview earlier this month.
“On my side, trying to get into Formula One and obviously being an American I think it would be a good match. So, definitely there’s talks ongoing there.”
With his strong junior record so far, existing connections with Andretti and the appeal of an American driver racing for an American outfit, Crawford could be the star choice for Cadillac.
Despite his lack of experience compared to other prospects, Crawford could be an exciting option to bring a young rookie in who can grow alongside the project.
4. Alex Dunne
Currently in his maiden F2 campaign, Alex Dunne is focused on winning the 2025 title and hopes to move into F1 sooner rather than later.
Dunne took part in FP1 in Austria as he took Lando Norris’ place in the McLaren, producing a successful P4 for his free practice debut.
Getting the opportunity to fill in for Norris was huge for Dunne considering how impressive the performance was.
Dunne has now been floating around the shortlist of potential Cadillac drivers for quite some time. His FP1 appearance showed his ability to handle the car and the spotlight, as well as being able to keep up with his teammate.
With how quickly the young Irish driver has got to grips in F2, the gamble could be worth it for a team starting from scratch.
5. Felipe Drugovich
Another young favourite to join the F1 grid is Felipe Drugovich, 2022 F2 Champion and current reserve driver for Aston Martin.
The Brazilian replaced Fernando Alonso in Hungary’s first practice session before the summer break, where he finished 16th and only three-tenths down from Lance Stroll in the sister car.
Drugovich has most recently been endurance racing for Cadillac Whelen and raced for Mahindra in Formula E, but has not had a full-time race position since his F2 victory.
If Cadillac were to sign a rookie driver, Drugovich is reportedly top of the list, according to multiple reports.
Drugovich was also the 2018 Euroformula Open champion, proving that he has the adaptability across several types of motorsport.
He remains another enticing option for Cadillac if they’re seeking a young, proven talent who could help navigate their first year in the sport.
