Although the 2025 Formula 1 season is about to begin in Melbourne, every team is already preparing for the following campaign due to the extensive changes taking place to the sport’s regulations.
The 2026 F1 ruleset sees changes to the power units, aerodynamics and even the size of the cars.
Not only that, but for the first time since 2016 there will 11 teams in the paddock.
Cadillac have officially had their entry into Formula 1 confirmed after years of lobbying from the Andretti group to enter the sport.
The growing popularity of F1 in America is likely to increase even further once Graeme Lowdon’s team make their debut next year and join Haas as the country’s representatives on the grid.
They’ve got a huge amount of work to do behind the scenes to get up and running over the next few months if they want to be competitive and Cadillac have already agreed a deal with Ferrari to use their power units until General Motors’ engines are ready.
Cadillac are also behind the curve when it comes to the F1 driver’s market after so much change over the winter.
Guenther Steiner was speaking on The Red Flags Podcast about the options available to the team.
He believes that Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas would be a very good option for the team but has ruled out his teammate George Russell making the move despite entering the final year of the current deal.
Guenther Steiner can’t see George Russell joining Cadillac F1 for the 2026 season
Steiner was asked about his dream Cadillac line-up and said: “I would take experienced drivers.
“I would take somebody like Bottas and maybe take a chance on a second one, a little bit less experienced, but I for sure would take one driver, the guy with the most experience I could get and I could afford.
“But Cadillac has got money with no end, you know, it’s Cadillac. I don’t think George would go to Cadillac, why would he?
“He’s in one of the best teams in Formula 1. I think Kimi needs to prove that he can stay in F1.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
“As much as Toto has put investment in [to Antonelli], as much as people say he’s very good, he still needs to prove it.
“And I don’t think that Mercedes would say, oh, we keep Kimi at all costs without having even done one race.
“So I do not think that George has to fear a lot there. I think George has quite a stable contract.
“And I think George would find a team where he doesn’t take a risk of being [in] a new team because he’s good, he has done it [for] a long time.”
George Russell addresses his Mercedes future ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
Russell was talking about his future at Mercedes and told the media ahead of the Australian Grand Prix: “We’ve had such a long-term relationship and so much trust between one another.
“We’re focused on getting Mercedes back on top and trying to win races and win championships and, to be honest, in this sport, the performance speaks.
“So, from my side, there’s no pressure. I’ve got no doubts about myself and everything falls into place when the timing is right.
“As I said, we’ve got bigger fish to fry right now which is getting us back on top.”
READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height
Russell has 128 Grand Prix under his belt and goes into 2025 as Mercedes’ team leader with Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside him.
However, Mercedes haven’t hidden their interest in Max Verstappen over the years and if the Dutchman was suddenly available, that could leave Russell in a precarious position.
There will be an opportunity for Cadillac to pounce on somewhere in the paddock this year but at this stage, it looks unlikely that Russell is going to be that driver.
