Cadillac: ‘Pathway’ for American drivers will come, but not in 2026

As Cadillac gears up for its much-anticipated Formula 1 debut in 2026, the American outfit has made a bold decision to forgo signing a homegrown driver, opting instead for the seasoned expertise of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

While the move has sparked debate among fans eager to see an American represent the General Motors-backed team, Cadillac’s leadership has defended the choice, citing the critical need for proven F1 experience in its inaugural season.

Speculation about Colton Herta or other IndyCar stars making the jump – or even F2 charger Jak Crawford – had gathered momentum in recent months.

Yet Cadillac made clear that experience – not nationality – had to take precedence in year one. Partnering with TWG Motorsports, the new outfit stressed that while an American driver remains part of its long-term vision, the immediate challenge of starting from scratch in F1 required a pair of veterans who know the terrain.

Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG, and Mark Reuss, president of General Motors, both underlined that bringing in proven winners gives Cadillac the best chance of establishing credibility quickly in the cutthroat world of Formula 1.

Experience Over Nationality

Towriss pointed directly to the challenges facing IndyCar star Colton Herta, whose lack of superlicence points ruled him out of contention.

“In the case of Colton, the superlicence points aren't there,” said Towriss.

"But what it comes down to is experience in F1 that carried the day. Despite the experience on the team, everybody is new and working together for the first time.

"It is important to us to make sure there is a pathway for an American driver into F1 but for this inaugural season, this was the right combination."

Cadillac also weighed the possibility of promoting a junior driver but ultimately concluded the risk was too great for a new entrant.

“Their experience, leadership and technical acumen are what we need,” Towriss said of Perez and Bottas. “We're humbled by their belief in us and this project.

"There is a young pool of drivers who are exciting and very talented so it was a tough decision. But it was the leadership of these two drivers that stood out."

The Human Factor in F1

For Reuss, the differences between IndyCar and F1 go well beyond the cars themselves. He stressed that Cadillac needed drivers who had not only mastered F1 machinery but also the communication and technical depth required to develop a car at the highest level.

“I think that the cultures are certainly different, as we might expect internationally versus more North America/United States and IndyCar,” said the GM boss.

“I think the technical development of the team and the car and the powertrain with experienced people that have done these tracks, you can simulate and use tools up to a point, but it becomes very human in terms of their ability to stretch the limits of their ability with a car that they have confidence in.

“And the technical back and forth between the team and the driver is extraordinarily important, especially when we look at the experience they have and the winning records they have.”

For now, Cadillac believes its best bet lies in Bottas and Perez guiding the team through the likely turbulent early years of its F1 journey.

But the door remains open for an American driver to join later, once the team has a stable foundation.

With GM’s global ambitions on display, it seems inevitable that the stars and stripes will eventually fly higher – and perhaps with an American talent in the cockpit.

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