Cadillac F1 boss eyes American driver for 2026 – if merit allows
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Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon has confirmed that the team's first driver line-up for the 2026 season will be based solely on merit, which he says leaves the door open for the inclusion of an American driver.
The Formula 1 landscape is set to expand in 2026 with the arrival of the General Motors-backed 11th team, following formal approval from Formula One and the FIA.
Although discussions with potential drivers were not possible before last week's entry ratification, Lowdon has now begun laying out the team's philosophy on driver selection.
With several experienced F1 drivers currently without seats and the prospect of a homegrown talent joining Cadillac's roster, Lowdon is navigating an unusual timeline to assemble a competitive pairing.
But the Briton insists that any candidate – regardless of nationality – must prove through their credentials their worthiness for a seat at the pinnacle of motorsport.
"We definitely select on merit," said Lowdon. "Formula 1, it's not a playground, this is the pinnacle of world motorsport.
A Late Entry into the Driver Market
Cadillac's delayed confirmation has placed the team at a disadvantage compared to its rivals, who have already contracted with many established talents for 2026, and beyond.
Lowdon acknowledged this timing mismatch but expressed confidence in the pool of available talent.
"I think in terms of timing, it's kind of a little bit odd because we're out of sync with the other teams, we weren't in the driver market during the fairly critical last round, so certain drivers are tied up for certain periods," he explained.
"Luckily for us, there are a lot of good drivers out there, unfortunately, we've not been able to be in the driver market until the entry was confirmed.
"It's important for us to talk to a number of potential candidates. Do we see very talented drivers who currently aren't on the grid? Yes, we do.
"We are going to be quite busy talking to a few people, my phone's certainly been busy. What's a little bit difficult because of the situation that we're in as a new team, the timeline isn't as laid out as it normally is.
"It's normally quite clear for all of us involved in the driver negotiations. But there are easily half a dozen, if not more candidates out there who offer extremely good credentials to be in Formula 1 or to be in Formula 1 again."
Among the names in circulation are seasoned F1 veterans like Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu, all of whom lost their seats at the end of the last season. Their experience could provide a strong foundation for Cadillac's ambitious project.
Zhou Guanyu: A Familiar Talent
One driver of particular interest is Zhou, whose career Lowdon knows intimately as the former Marussia team boss has been part of the Ferrari reserve driver's management team.
While Zhou's F1 tenure has been marked by challenging circumstances, Lowdon praised his performance.
"I think Zhou's done an exceptionally good job under difficult circumstances and what makes it actually quite useful for me is he doesn't necessarily need to explain the background of his abilities because I've had a front row seat to see all that, so that's a benefit," he said.
Zhou Guanyu with Graeme Lowdon.
However, Lowdon was quick to dispel any notion of bias.
"There's the correct checks and balances in place, so there's no favouritism in any particular direction towards him or any other driver that we may have involvement with on the grid," he emphasized.
"We're there to do a job, so we'll select drivers on merit. There are some really good ones out there, Zhou included."
With meaningful conversations only now beginning, Lowdon remained cautious about specifics.
"It's a little bit too early to go too much into any detail, because it's only now that we're able to have meaningful conversations," he added. "But for sure, we want to have drivers that can contribute to the overall programme."
The American Driver Question
As an American team, Cadillac naturally faces speculation about recruiting a homegrown driver – a move that would resonate with U.S. fans and align with the brand's identity.
Lowdon addressed this possibility head-on, leaving the door open while reinforcing his merit-first stance.
©IndyCar
"The obvious question is whether we'll have American drivers and personally, I see no reason why an American driver can't be selected on merit as well," he said.
"It's certainly something that the fans would like to see, and I see no reason why that can't happen. But the overriding objective is merit. We've got a job to do here.
"I don't see any particular problem. I don't envisage any particular problem on that front and as I said before, driver selection will definitely be on merit.
"What I'm trying to emphasise is just because someone's American doesn't mean that they can't be a good Formula 1 driver."r
Herta's Super Licence Conundrum
One name frequently linked to Cadillac is IndyCar star Colton Herta, a 24-year-old race winner with undeniable talent.
However, Herta's path to F1 is complicated by his lack of sufficient FIA Super Licence points, a hurdle that previously thwarted a potential move to AlphaTauri in 2022.
"He doesn't have the required number of Super Licence points," commented Lowdon.
"If that were to remain the case, then that's clearly an impediment for him – we can't choose a driver that doesn't have the points, that's just the real world that we live in and we just have to take that into account."
Yet, Lowdon was effusive about Herta's ability. "Does his lack of reaching or lack of being at the threshold for the Super Licence in any way affect his ability to drive a race car? No.
"He's incredibly talented driver. "It's not shock news that we would be looking to consider Colton alongside a whole bunch of other drivers as well."
Herta's prior outings with McLaren, where team boss Andrea Stella praised his potential, further bolster his case. Still, without a Super Licence, his inclusion remains uncertain.
But for Lowdon, nationality is a secondary consideration to talent – a philosophy that could see Cadillac make history with an American driver, provided they meet the sport's exacting standards.
With his phone buzzing and a slew of candidates in contention, Lowdon's next steps will shape not only Cadillac's trajectory but also the broader narrative of American involvement in Formula 1.
For now, the team principal is keeping his options open, guided by a commitment to excellence at the pinnacle of world motorsport.
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