Cadillac have reached an agreement to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026. There were strong rumours that a deal was imminent was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and confirmation arrived on Monday evening.
There are still some steps for the General Motors subsidiary to complete before they start racing. Most important of those, perhaps, is paying the giant entry fee.
Christian Horner has already warned Red Bull ‘won’t pay’ for Cadillac, hinting that their contribution must outweigh the reduced share of prize money. Martin Brundle urged Horner not to ‘cry tears’ given his team’s mighty revenue.
Another key task is nominating a driver line-up. There will now be two extra seats available, a much-needed opportunity for shunned veterans and overlooked young talent.
F1 hasn’t had 11 cars on the grid since 2016, when another American outfit in Haas made their debut. That didn’t last long as the embattled Manor team dropped out at the end of the year.
Haas went with Romain Grosjean, who’d scored 10 podiums for Lotus, as their lead driver. They also signed Esteban Gutierrez, who’d spent a year as Ferrari reserve after losing his spot at Sauber, but he only lasted a year.
Cadillac F1 chief Dan Towriss a big admirer of Colton Herta as he plots 2026 driver signings
One outstanding candidate for a Cadillac drive is Colton Herta. The 24-year-old races for the Andretti team in IndyCar.
While Andretti weren’t named in Monday’s F1 statement, their eponymous founder Mario – a world champion – will serve as a director and an advisor. Herta delivered two wins, six podiums and 513 points for his team last season, finishing runner-up in the standings behind Alex Palou.
According to The Race, Cadillac F1 boss Dan Towriss is a ‘keen of supporter’ of Herta, in addition to the Andrettis. He took over from his business partner Michael shortly before the entry was approved.
However, the Californian driver must still attain a superlicence before he joins the grid. Fortunately, he has the whole of 2025 to do so.
The ideal teammate for Colton Herta in GM F1 project is already clear
Overall, Herta has bagged nine wins, 14 pole positions and 18 podiums in IndyCar. He’s arguably the best American talent in motorsports right now.
Former engineer and IndyCar expert Marshall Pruett has called him a ‘formidable’ driver (via RACER). If he does land a 2026 seat, though, it might be wise to pair him with a known quantity.
Herta could learn from an experienced driver during his rookie campaign. That’s why Valtteri Bottas is an ideal signing for Cadillac.
Bottas will lose his Sauber seat at the end of the season following moves for Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. But he’s only six short of 250 race starts and has notched 10 wins, 20 poles and 67 podiums at the highest level.
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