General Motors is coming to F1 in 2026 with Cadillac due to join the grid as the 11th team and Karun Chandhok has now named a driver they should ‘absolutely’ look at.
Formula 1 announced in November that it had found an agreement with General Motors for the American automotive giant to join the pinnacle of motorsport via its Cadillac brand. The FIA and F1 are now working to finalise formalising official confirmation for the outfit’s entry.
Cadillac will be the first new team on the Formula 1 grid since Haas joined in 2016. They will also be a full factory team, with General Motors committed to eventually building their own F1 power units. Cadillac will buy power units from Ferrari for at least their first two seasons.
Karun Chandhok touts Yuki Tsunoda as an option for Cadillac after changing his manager
While F1 accepted General Motors’ entry after the Cadillac team distanced themselves from Michael Andretti, Mario Andretti insists they want to get an American driver. Colton Herta is a leading candidate for Cadillac, but Chandhok sees options in F1 to offer them experience.
One of those options is Yuki Tsunoda, who Chandhok thinks Cadillac should ‘absolutely’ look at as the Racing Bulls driver has changed agent. The 24-year-old has hired Diego Menchaca to replace Mario Miyakawa plus Luis Alvarez after Red Bull elected to promote Liam Lawson.
Tsunoda has admitted he could leave the Red Bull family after missing out to Lawson on the chance to replace Sergio Perez in their line-up. Yet even though Chandhok believes Tsunoda would be worth Cadillac considering, he thinks Valtteri Bottas would be an even better hire.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
“Listen, if you were Cadillac, absolutely if Yuki’s on the market you’d think about it,” he said on Sky Sports F1 (28/02, 10:47). “Would you pick Yuki ahead of Bottas? Probably not for a new team.”
Yuki Tsunoda confirms his new manager has already met Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko
Red Bull snubbing Tsunoda, who is still yet to take a podium finish after 87 Grand Prix starts, in favour of promoting Lawson, who has started just 11 Grands Prix, has put the Racing Bulls ace’s future firmly in focus. Tsunoda is out of contract at Racing Bulls after the 2025 season.
Christian Horner and Helmut Marko were split on promoting Tsunoda with the Red Bull boss in the reluctant camp and their motorsport advisor supporting the move. Some of Red Bull’s senior engineering team also had their doubts about Tsunoda being the driver they needed.
READ MORE: Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
Yet, while Chandhok has suggested that Cadillac should look at Tsunoda if he leaves the Red Bull family following the Japanese ace confirming he has changed manager, the Racing Bulls pilot remains committed to moving to Milton Keynes and Menchaca has already met Marko.
Tsunoda told Motorsport.com: “Once we decided to work together, he immediately went to Helmut’s office to build a relationship. That kind of effort, I really appreciate and, obviously, Helmut did, too.
“They already have a good relationship, which is a good start. But in the end, the most important thing is to perform on track, which will make Diego’s life easier.”
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