Ted Kravitz says 12-season F1 driver will be ‘doing a dance’ after Cadillac’s 2026 entry was confirmed

Cadillac will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026 as the sport’s 11th team. After securing FIA approval, they have now reached a commercial agreement with the existing teams.

This comes at the end of a protracted saga. Cadillac initially tried to enter in partnership with Andretti, but they have now dropped that name from their branding.

The feeling is that they will add more value to the sport under the guise of Cadillac F1. They will initially buy engines from Ferrari but aim to introduce their own power unit from 2028, becoming a fully-fledged works team.

F1 hasn’t had a 22-car grid since 2016, when Manor were still racing. The cash-strapped team, formerly called Virgin and Marussia, withdrew at the end of that season.

Now that Cadillac’s place is confirmed, attention will naturally turn to their driver line-up. As the table below shows, most of the current grid are already under contract for 2026.

Drivers who already have a seat will want to see how the General Motors subsidiary stack up before considering a move. But it’s a perfect opportunity for youngsters awaiting a chance, or veterans who have lost their seats.

Ted Kravitz says Valtteri Bottas will be delighted by Cadillac F1 news

Speaking on the F1 Show on Friday evening, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz named Valtteri Bottas as a big winner after the Cadillac announcement. Sauber elected not to renew Bottas’ contract at the end of 2024 as they prepare for Audi’s arrival next year.

The Finn remains active in the paddock, though, after rejoining Mercedes in a reserve capacity. Bottas was present at pre-season testing late last month.

Kravitz suspects that Cadillac, who will be advised by Mario Andretti, will look to pair an American talent with a ‘seasoned campaigner’. And he thinks Bottas could fit the latter bill.

It emerged earlier this year Bottas was in talks with Cadillac. Those were always hypothetical until they received the green light, but now they may progress.

“Valtteri Bottas will be doing a dance tonight!” Kravitz said. “If we think Cadillac are going to have one American driver and one seasoned campaigner in F1, Bottas is available.

“Mercedes would let him go for next year. He’d be one of the candidates.”

F1 fans are convinced Cadillac will turn to a different driver for ‘seasoned campaigner’ role

Bottas clearly has a legitimate shot at the seat, but a raft of names will be linked. Mick Schumacher won’t rule out a Cadillac seat, but that would be a risk given that he dropped off the F1 grid at the end of 2022.

On the other hand, Bottas is a 10-time Grand Prix winner who’s raced in the sport for 12 seasons. He fits into the same category as Sergio Perez, who negotiated an early Red Bull exit in December.

Perez broke into F1 a couple of years earlier than Bottas and has also won multiple races. He brings huge commercial incentives, though that may not be essential for a company like GM.

Some F1 fans are convinced Perez will return as a Cadillac driver. While he unravelled alongside Max Verstappen last season, he’s previously excelled in F1’s midfield.