Cadillac F1 Yet to Begin Reserve Driver Search Despite Main Lineup Set

Why it matters:

As Cadillac prepares for its 2026 Formula 1 debut, the American outfit has confirmed its primary driver lineup but is still in the early stages of completing its full roster, including a crucial reserve driver.

The details:

Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon revealed that the team has "made no offers to anybody, for any reserve position with the team" as of yet. This comes after the announcement that former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and current Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas will form the debut driver line-up. IndyCar Series driver Colton Herta has been confirmed as the test driver.

"But that is now the position that we'll turn our attention to and it helps complete the line-up," Lowdon explained to F1.com.

The big picture:

Cadillac is set to join the F1 championship in 2026 as the 11th team, coinciding with significant new regulations. Lowdon has previously emphasized a merit-based approach for driver selection, rather than prioritizing nationality, despite earlier rumors linking the team to American drivers. This philosophy was applied to the main driver choices and is expected to guide the selection of a reserve driver as well.

"We'll select drivers on merit. Having a driver on merit doesn't mean you can't have an American passport as well," Lowdon stated, highlighting a broad pool of talent available.

What's next:

The team will now focus on securing a reserve driver to finalize its roster. This step is essential for solidifying Cadillac's operational structure as it continues its extensive preparations for the highly anticipated 2026 season.