Cadillac F1 chief addresses driver rumours after 2026 entry confirmed

Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon has addressed the rumours surrounding the driver lineup for the team, which has now been formally approved to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026.

Speculation about the driver lineup for the upcoming team ramped up after it received an agreement in principle to join the sport in November. Mario Andretti, who is on the board of directors for the team, has previously explained that are interested in having an American driver. This has led many to speculate that IndyCar driver Colton Herta could be a strong candidate.

Speaking about the rumours during an interview with Formula1.com, Lowdon explained:

“There’s some very talented drivers still out there. We hadn’t been able to be in the driver market until the entry was confirmed. Now it has, we can move forward with that.

“In terms of timing, we’re not putting any timeline on driver announcements or anything like that but for sure, there will be in time.

“For sure we’re going to hire drivers based on merit. But as such, we see no reason why we won’t have American drivers in time.

“There’s nothing preventing a driver being selected on merit and being American. I think that would be something that a lot of fans would really want to see as well.

Graeme Lowdon in the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber garage

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“At the end of the day, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is based in the US. We have an operation in the UK, but it’s headquartered in the US and it is a US team as well.

“I’m fairly sure that hiring on merit and having a US driver are entirely compatible objectives for the team.”

However, Herta has downplayed the rumours, explaining that he would be leaving a lot behind to make the move. He said:

"I'd be leaving a great group of people I really like working with, so it's not a sure thing for me.

"It's not an easy decision, just to be like, 'alright, see you guys later'. I'd be giving up an opportunity of maybe never working with these people again."

Speaking to Autosport, Andretti commented on Herta being a possibility while teasing that a driver announcement will probably come in the middle of this year. He explained:

"That's going to become official probably mid-year," Andretti revealed. "There are many considerations. If you even read on social media, people are just floating around certain names and so forth.

"But we are obviously looking at every aspect of every opportunity that's there. It's clear that the objectives are to have at least one American driver and then another experienced driver alongside and start like that.

"Looking back at the way Colton has trained from the very beginning of his young career; as you know he started in Formula 3 and so on with the likes of Lando Norris and he's done some F1 testing.

"Actually, [McLaren CEO] Zak Brown gave him a good test at Portimao in Portugal. You should see the report that we got from [team principal] Andrea Stella. And Andrea Stella is an individual that says it like it is, so again he's a great candidate for this.

"All of this has to be proven, of course, but going in I think he’s a good bet in my opinion."