Cadillac have less than a year to prepare for their first season in Formula 1 which involves getting stuck into silly season and approaching possible drivers.
Haas were the last team to enter the grid in a similar capacity back in 2016 and they hired the services of Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez to drive for them.
The partnership only lasted one season, but both had experience at the highest level and were financially within reach.
Cadillac will be aiming for a similar level of driver and may even bring one of their own over from America if Colton Herta feels up to the challenge.
Mario Andretti wants Cadillac to adopt the ‘amazing’ McLaren team’s model in the hope that they can replicate the sort of success they have achieved.
McLaren won the Constructors’ Championship this season after starting the year prior with the slowest car on the grid – quite the turnaround in such a short space of time.
George Russell is ‘too optimistic’ for Cadillac to sign for 2026 F1 operation
Cadillac have an array of options when it comes to picking drivers ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season including race-winners and plenty of experience.
They’re going to need some drivers who can help develop their car and bring a winning mmentality to the team as they make their baby steps into the sport.
Italian outlet Autosprint.it reports that George Russell would be ‘too optimistic’ to sign as one of their drivers.
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The Brit will instead look to renew his Mercedes contract when it expires at the end of 2025, leaving the American outfit to find their expertise elsewhere.
The three-time race-winner has been patiently waiting to inherit a car capable of challenging for a title and leaving right before the new 2026 F1 regulations would be a silly move.
Instead, Cadillac could sign a Ferrari junior driver to race for them considering their engine partnership which has been agreed until they are capable of making their own power unit.
Which drivers could Cadillac sign for the 2026 Formula 1 season?
Russell isn’t the only Mercedes race-winner on the market after Valtteri Bottas lost his Sauber seat after three seasons with the Swiss outfit.
He has great experience and hasn’t shown any signs of clear regression either. There aren’t many drivers who know what it’s like to drive a backmarker car and a championship winning car, so he would be a great choice.
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Reportedly, Daniel Ricciardo is in F1 retirement after his RB axe so he is off-limits but would have made a great partnership alongside Bottas.
There’s also young talent which has been snubbed in recent times including Formula 2 champions Theo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich who are very deserving of seats.
Franco Colapinto is another young name who should be in the hat after his terrific performance filling in for Williams at the end of the 2024 season – he has shown great promise too.
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