Following months of heavy speculation as to the lineup of the newly established F1 team, Cadillac, there finally seems to be more certainty as of recently. A few sources have confirmed that advanced talks indicate that Cadillac is opting for an experienced driver lineup rather than gambling on a rookie with high potential.
In recent days, it has become very clear that both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are favourites to join the American outfit next season as F1 enters its next era of competition. With this likely lineup all but confirmed, many are wondering why the team made this choice over opting for a younger lineup or even a hybrid between the two. F1 expert Chris Medland seems to have found an explanation.
Experience over potential likely at Cadillac for 2026 and beyond
In an official announcement in March, F1 revealed that Cadillac received the green light to join Formula 1 from 2026. Following this announcement, there was a big question mark over which drivers would represent the team in its first years. While the speculation is still far from over, racer.com has valuable insight into choices that will be made in the coming weeks.
In one of their latest statements, they have confirmed that “Cadillac F1 team has opted to prioritize experience in both race seats, with Bottas and Perez the intended pairing, and contract progress at an advanced stage.”
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While this might not come as a shock, given the impressive track records of both drivers. There were talks about the likes of younger drivers having a shot at a seat with Cadillac in 2026, drivers like Mick Schumacher, Felipe Drugovich and Jak Crawford.
A crucial decision lies ahead as F1 changes their formula
With the 2026 lineup coming closer and closer to confirmation, the number of available seats shrinks considerably. The F1 summer break is nearly over, and there are still quite a few seats open. With a new era of competition comes a completely new car. A car that handles much more differently than anything drivers have experienced so far. This means that having the right driver in the car is pivotal for success next year.
While it may not look like much from the outside, having an amazing understanding of the car you’re driving will not only benefit the driver in the moment. It will also benefit strategists, engineers and development personnel as they can easily identify problems based on drivers’ feedback.
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If the driver can’t communicate clearly to their team what they need from their car to gain that extra tenth in turn 4, that could very well haunt the team for an entire season. On top of that, if a driver lacks that level of communication across seasons, it could also mean that the team has a disadvantage for years, as they can’t catch up.
These types of concerns are obviously taken into account when discussing the driver lineup of an up-and-coming team like Cadillac. It is then also no shock that Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas made it this far in contract negotiations. Both of these drivers have not only driven cars for a long time, but they have also driven at the front and back of the grid in their careers. They know what separates a good car from a bad one and how to identify the issues.
