Cadillac are set to become Formula 1’s 11th team in 2026 after General Motors reached an agreement to get the American brand onto the grid.
The sensational news will mark the first time in 10 years that the pinnacle of motorsport has had 22 cars in the field.
Rumours had been swirling around the paddock at the Las Vegas Grand Prix that GM were picking up momentum in their bid to get into F1.
Sure enough, they struck a deal that will see Cadillac make their way onto the grid when the new technical regulations come into effect in 2026. Essentially taking over from Andretti after they failed in their bid to reach F1, the American outfit are looking to become a factory team come 2028.
While their arrival is not for another 15 months, speculation has already been rife as to who will be the two drivers that race for Cadillac.
Several names have already been mentioned, but former F1 designer Gary Anderson thinks that one of their main targets may not be ready to make the step up.
Colton Herta told he makes ‘too many mistakes’ to race for Cadillac in F1
Mario Andretti wants to have an American driver in one of Cadillac’s cars come 2026. There is currently not a driver from the US on the F1 grid after Williams axed Logan Sargeant.
IndyCar star Colton Herta has been heavily linked with the team and has been mentioned in the running for an F1 seat for some time.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
The 24-year-old seems to be the favorite to land a seat with Cadillac, but Herta’s lack of a superlicense may be an issue when he goes to apply to join the grid in 2026.
Herta’s experience in an F1 car is fairly limited, having only done some testing in old machinery with McLaren. While he does not question that the American has speed in IndyCar, Anderson questioned whether he has the ‘mental capacity’ for F1, claiming he makes ‘too many mistakes.’
“I think coming in as an American team, they’ll want an American driver. Who that is, I don’t know,” he said via the Formula For Success Podcast.
“A lot of talk about Colton Herta, and without doubt in IndyCar, he’s quick. But, I reserve judgement.
“To me, he makes too many mistakes. He’s definitely got speed in IndyCar, I don’t know that he’s got speed and the mental capacity to pick up Formula 1.
“Formula 1 is a very complicated formulae. IndyCars are a bit like F2 as such, they’re a racing car with a steering wheel and you get on with it. Whereas Formula 1 cars aren’t like that, there’s so much more going on.”
Who could race alongside Colton Herta at Cadillac in 2026?
Despite Anderson’s comments, Herta will no doubt be a frontrunner to race for Cadillac, with there being numerous other options out there for the team to consider.
Mario Andretti has stated that he would like an experienced F1 driver to go alongside the young American driver, and there are several options available to them. Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu will be without seats in 2025 and could make an F1 return with Cadillac.
Mick Schumacher has been another name mentioned in the running, and the German would provide experience from his time with Haas and as a reserve driver with Mercedes.
Cadillac certainly have to consider Felipe Drugovich for 2026. While he is technically a rookie, his time as a reserve driver with Aston Martin will be valuable to Cadillac, plus his connections to the team in endurance racing make it a sensible option.
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