Formula 1 and General Motors have agreed for an 11th team under the Cadillac name to join the grid in 2026, and GM has already set its eyes on dipping into the driver market.
The pinnacle of motorsport has been closed off since Haas became the first USA-owned F1 team since 1986 when they debuted in 2016. It was also the last time that Formula 1 had 11 squads on the grid as Manor folded following the conclusion of the campaign after six years.
An 11th outfit will soon join the grid, though, as Formula 1 has agreed to let General Motors enter with its luxury Cadillac brand in 2026. The agreement follows GM taking control of the failed Andretti entry helped by the promise of becoming an engine producer, likely for 2028.
Cadillac eyes Colton Herta and Mick Schumacher to drive for GM’s F1 team
After Williams axed Logan Sargeant after his FP3 crash at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, there is also once again no American driver on the Formula 1 grid. So, General Motors is exploring the candidates to put an American behind the wheel of one of Cadillac’s two F1 cars in 2026.
That is according to Express.de, which claims that IndyCar star Colton Herta is the ‘preferred driver’ for General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team. But GM joining the grid could also deliver Mick Schumacher his chance to return to Formula 1 with the German likely of interest to Cadillac.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
Cadillac would want one driver with Formula 1 experience like Schumacher if Herta joins the field in 2026. The 24-year-old Californian who races for Andretti is one of the fastest IndyCar drivers. But Herta lacks a superlicence to enter F1 – despite previously testing with McLaren.
Mick Schumacher could offer GM and Cadillac great Formula 1 experience
Schumacher could give Cadillac and General Motors a great source of Formula 1 experience and can join the project immediately to lay strong foundations for the team’s debut in 2026. The 25-year-old is still yet to announce his plans for 2025 after missing out on a return to F1.
Audi snubbed the chance to sign two German drivers, with Brazilian talent Gabriel Bortoleto joining Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber in 2025 instead of Schumacher. A return to F1 remains his target, though, as Schumacher bids to build on his two seasons with Haas in 2021 and 2022.
READ MORE: Who is F1 reserve and Alpine WEC star Mick Schumacher? Everything to know
Hulkenberg got Schumacher’s seat at Haas after the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher only scored 12 points over 44 entries. He took P8 in the 2022 British Grand Prix plus P6 in the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix but Kevin Magnussen scored 25 points during 2022.
Since then, Schumacher has spent the last two seasons as an F1 reserve driver for Mercedes and also debuted in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine in 2024. Yet Toto Wolff thinks Schumacher ‘deserves to be in F1’ and the German is capable of doing a ‘perfect job’.
His time in the Silver Arrows’ garage as Mercedes turned their car around to become Grand Prix winners again with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in 2024 may prove appealing for General Motors and Cadillac, with Schumacher adding that experience to their 2026 project.
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