The Formula 1 driver’s market was one of the biggest talking points of the 2024 season after Lewis Hamilton decided to swap Mercedes for Ferrari, setting off a chain reaction of moves up and down the paddock.
Going into this campaign, the driver’s market is expected to be less frenetic, but the arrival of Cadillac has suddenly opened up two seats on the grid.
Looking at the contract situations of each F1 driver, several stars know they need to secure a new deal in the coming months.
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are entering the final year of their contracts, while Yuki Tsunoda is expected to leave Racing Bulls after five seasons with the junior team.
Jack Doohan is fighting to see out the 2025 season after signing for Alpine midway through last year but with just a single Grand Prix start to his name.
All of these drivers will know that there’s a potential fall-back option next year should their current employers decide to go in a different direction.
Cadillac received confirmation that they would be on the grid at the beginning of March after years of attempting to reach Formula 1.
Mario Andretti played a key role in the negotiations with his son Michael also previously involved.
Andretti wants to see Colton Herta drive in F1, but there are plenty of American racers who will be eyeing up a seat on the grid in 2026.
In an interview with The F2 Show, Formula 2 star and Aston Martin youngster Jak Crawford was asked about the potential of racing for Cadillac next year.
The 19-year-old suggested that he was already ‘ready’ for the step up if the American racing giants come calling.
Jak Crawford says he’s ‘ready’ for 2026 Cadillac F1 race seat
When the news of Cadillac’s arrival in Formula 1 was put to Crawford, he said: “Yeah, [it’s a] huge deal. It’s great to see.
“Obviously, we had Haas before, [but] now it feels even a bit more American now with Cadillac, which is great to see.
“And yeah, excited to see how they do, of course.”
READ MORE: Who could be the next American Formula 1 driver after Williams dropped Logan Sargeant?
Asked if he would be interested in a move to Cadillac if they came calling, Crawford continued: “I’m ready, I’m ready. I would love to race in Formula 1, obviously.
“So if the opportunity arises, I would take it, 100%.”
Jak Crawford has to leave Aston Martin for Cadillac to avoid Felipe Drugovich’s situation
Crawford is preparing for his third season racing in Formula 2 which makes him sound like a veteran within the junior category.
However, it’s important to remember that Crawford is still only 19 years old and his rapid rise through the ranks should be applauded rather than hindered him.
Before Sauber signed Gabriel Bortoleto, F2 champions had struggled to make the final step up into Formula 1 with opportunities hard to come by.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
Oscar Piastri had to wait a season before McLaren signed him from Alpine, while Felipe Drugovich is entering his third year as Aston Martin’s reserve driver after winning the 2022 title.
Theo Pourchaire was overlooked by Sauber after his championship win, but with Aston Martin aiming to win championships from next year onwards, it seems even more unlikely that an opportunity will arise for Drugovich, let alone Crawford.
Therefore, if Cadillac want a talented young American driver next season, Crawford will immediately put himself in the frame if he can win the Formula 2 title.
Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, Alpine youngster Gabriele Mini and a familiar name in Sebastian Montoya are among the names that stand in his way, but Crawford is the highest-ranking driver returning from last season’s F2 championship.
