For the first time since 2016, Formula 1 is set to have an 11th team on the grid as General Motors have an agreement to join the sport with their Cadillac brand.
FOM had initially rejected Andretti’s bid to join F1 for 2025 and 2026, but now GM have an agreement in principle to become the new team on the grid with Cadillac, taking over from Andretti’s hard preparations for F1 in the US and Silverstone.
The team are looking to bring their own power units to F1 come the 2028 season. In the meantime, Cadillac are talking with Ferrari over a deal for the 16-time F1 champions to supply them with engines for when they enter the sport in 2026.
But the biggest talking point surrounding the Cadillac entry will no doubt be who the two new drivers will be on the grid, with Mario Andretti keen on signing an American driver. Following Logan Sargeant’s sacking from Williams, there is no American on the F1 grid.
IndyCar star Colton Herta has been heavily linked with Cadillac, but Herta’s lack of superlicence points may be an issue come 2026. Mick Schumacher is another name being linked with Cadillac, who would provide some much-needed F1 experience to the sport’s latest outfit.
Felipe Drugovich is also ‘sniffing around’ Cadillac for a seat with the team. Given the Brazilian experience in the pinnacle of motorsport and his ties to the team, the 24-year-old would be a great fit for the American team in 2026.
Felipe Drugovich will offer experience from his time at Aston Martin
Cadillac will need an experienced head in the cockpit of their car in their debut season. As Haas showed in 2021 with Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin with no points, having two rookies on board can be damaging for the team.
Therefore, it would be sensible to have at least one of their drivers know their way around an F1 car, and Drugovich will provide that – even if he has never competed in a Grand Prix.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
Since the Brazilian won the 2022 Formula 2 title, he has served as the reserve driver for Aston Martin, doing vital simulator work for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, whilst also getting numerous testing opportunities with old machinery and in FP1 sessions.
But the 24-year-old has been repeatedly snubbed of a chance to race full-time in F1, leading Peter Windsor to call Drugovich the worst signing in F1 history – not because of his ability, but because he cost Aston Martin £600,000 only for him to sit behind Alonso and Stroll.
While he will be technically a rookie, Drugovich’s experience as a reserve driver will be valuable to Cadillac. It will also offer a fresh start for the Brazilian away from a team that has given him little to no opportunities to shine, and this could see him flourish in new surroundings.
Felipe Drugovich already has connections to Cadillac
Another key factor as to why Drugovich is such a good option for Cadillac in 2026 is that he already has connections to the team – albeit via a very different operation to F1.
In 2024, the Brazilian has been competing in the European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class with Vector Sport. As part of his campaign, Drugovich raced a Cadillac V-Series R at the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Pipo Derani and former F1 driver Jack Aitken.
READ MORE: Brazilian fans sang ‘special’ driver’s name when Lance Stroll crashed at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
The 24-year-old will get another outing with the team in January next year, as he is set to take part in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Endurance racing and F1 are two completely different categories in terms of machinery and the way the teams operate. However, knowing the personnel within Cadillac in some capacity will surely put Drugovich in good stead to land a seat in 2026 when they join the pinnacle of motorsport.
Cadillac already knows the ability the Brazilian has behind the wheel of their cars and his time at Aston Martin shows he is capable of driving in F1. These two key factors will certainly put Drugovich under consideration, and he is a candidate that F1’s newest team simply cannot ignore.
