F1 driver market flickers into life as Cadillac narrow down shortlist for 2026

Cadillac have identified seven drivers as potential candidates to lead them on track in their debut Formula 1 season. Next year, the American outfit will become the first fresh constructor to join the grid since Haas made their entrance back in 2016.

The team is supported by a collaboration with TWG Motorsport and Andretti Global. As well as getting the outfit into shape ahead of its debut, team principal Graeme Lowdon is now working to cement his driver pairing for the upcoming campaign, with several racers' futures currently uncertain.

Seven prospects, including some not presently competing in F1, have made it onto Lowdon's shortlist. He made as much clear during an appearance on the High Performance podcast, during which he openly discussed some of the names under consideration at Cadillac.

Acknowledging he was contemplating handing Mick Schumacher a way back onto the F1 grid, he stated: "Yeah, we are talking to Mick." The German is hunting his first F1 race seat since 2022 when he was axed by Haas and their then-team principal Guenther Steiner.

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Lowdon is also eyeing Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who rejoined the Silver Arrows as a reserve this year. He additionally disclosed that discussions are ongoing with Max Verstappen's former Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who has been less vocal about his plans and worked in the background to secure his return to the F1 grid.

Nevertheless, the 60-year-old isn't solely focusing on seasoned competitors. He confirmed that former Formula 2 racers Felipe Drugovich and Frederik Vesti are in the running, while he also name-checked Red Bull academy driver Arvid Lindblad before conceding that it would be very difficult to pry the Brit away from their grasp.

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Cadillac have made it clear from the beginning that they would love to field an American driver if possible, and are still contemplating a move for IndyCar racer Colton Herta. The American took part in a two-day trial with the McLaren F1 squad in 2022, and currently races for Andretti Global with Curb Agajanian.

However, he does not currently have enough points for an FIA superlicence which is required for anyone to race in F1. Currently eighth in the IndyCar standings, that finish this season would not be high enough for Herta to gain the points he needs to reach the threshold of 40.

Lowdon has made a commitment to consider only those who prioritise the team over personal ambitions. He said: "Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, for someone to prove what they can do for sure. But it's not a vehicle to kind of show the world to prove a point or whatever.

"Drivers are there to prove the best they possibly can for the team, and they should be motivated for the team around them as well. I'm less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point."