Cadillac enters Formula One with top drivers leading new American team

2 hours ago 3

F1 is one of the world’s most popular and exclusive sports, but there’s no American brand represented. That’s all changing as Cadillac is about to officially enter Formula One. The American automaker has confirmed that Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will drive for the team when it joins the grid in 2026. This is the first new constructor in ten years, and the only fully American one.

In the US Formula One has exploded in popularity in recent seasons, boosted by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and brand high profile races in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas. The addition of Cadillac plays right into that and gives the American fans a taste of what it’s like to have a hometown brand to support.

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Pérez and Bottas bring more than a dozen career wins between them, and their involvement gives an indication that Cadillac is trying to bring experience to the table rather than just raw potential.

Many expected Cadillac to balance experience with youth, and Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, was widely viewed as a strong candidate for the second seat. Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner backed him, saying, “I think Mick has a good chance. Cadillac needs a driver with experience in Formula 1, and there are currently not many drivers who don’t have a job but have already driven Formula 1.” It now appears that Schumacher will instead take a reserve role.

Australian driver Jack Doohan, son of MotoGP star Mick Doohan, was also in advanced talks with team principal Graeme Lowden before the team’s lineup was confirmed. Doohan’s path into Formula One has not been simple, much like Cadillac’s own. After standout seasons in Formula 3 and Formula 2, Alpine promoted him to a full-time seat for 2025, beating out Schumacher for the spot. Former driver Marc Surer supported Alpine’s decision at the time, saying Doohan was faster and a product of their academy.

Former Formula One driver and commentator David Coulthard remains optimistic about Doohan’s potential, saying, “Doohan has been impressive as he has risen up through the various championships from karting to Formula 1. A serial winner in all categories he hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip in Formula 1 so far but I have no doubt he has all the commitment and skills necessary to succeed.”

For now, Cadillac will look to its veteran pairing to lead the debut campaign, with Lowden telling everyone to keep in mind that finishing last next season is probably the most likely outcome.

So, Cadillac obviously has a huge challenge in front of it as it debuts against powerhouses like Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. Those teams all have decades of experience. General Motors and its partners reportedly paid $450 million to join the grid and will begin with Ferrari engines before they develop their own power unit in 2029.

Regardless, Cadillac’s debut is about much more than podiums or earning points. It’s an historic bid for America to compete on one of sport’s biggest stages and make the event feel a little closer to home.

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