Cadillac have been working on their F1 entry bid for years, always working under the assumption they would be approved. As they prepare for their debut in 2026, Cadillac must decide on their driver line-up.
Due to the volume of drivers who missed out in last year’s “silly season”, there are many solid options available in the market.
Negotiations between Cadillac and 2026 candidates have been underway for some time.
These talks will intensify in the coming weeks, as the likes of Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu fight for their F1 careers.
Perez, Bottas and Zhou among the front-runners
Cadillac have been vocal about some of the characteristics they want from their F1 drivers.
Near the top of their priority list is someone with experience, which is perfectly sensible considering they are a new team.
Having a driver that can give accurate set-up feedback, consistently deliver results and provide Cadillac with insights about how F1 teams typically operate would be a huge bonus.
In this sense, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas (to a lesser extent, Zhou Guanyu) are obvious choices.
Perez’s reputation took something of a hit during his final campaigns at Red Bull, when he struggled to match Max Verstappen.
The Mexican driver was often scrapping at the lower end of the top 10 – whilst Verstappen managed to drag the RB20 to the top step of the podium.
Of course, there has been some revisionism since the start of 2025.
Liam Lawson’s nightmare stint at Red Bull has helped paint a kinder narrative about Perez’s results with the Milton Keynes outfit.
In the words of Mario Andretti, a senior advisor at Cadillac, “Lawson is making Checo look very, very good.”
Sergio Perez’s sponsorship brings he can bring even more to the table. This might give him an edge compared to Valtteri Bottas – for example – whose CV in the sport is very similar.
Speaking of Bottas, he makes no secret that returning to the grid in 2026 is his priority.
Unfortunately for the Finn, if Cadillac opt to sign Perez, they might opt for other characteristics in their second driver.
Cadillac to evaluate other options
Another option for the American outfit is Zhou Guanyu, who is currently Ferrari reserve driver.
The 25-year-old, though perhaps lacking the experience of veterans like Bottas or Perez, is still regarded as a safe pair of hands.
The former Sauber driver’s late points haul in Qatar last year was a reminder that, in competitive machinery, he can deliver results.
Across his three years as Valtteri Bottas’ teammate, Zhou was generally slightly slower.
However, the gap between the two drivers was generally relatively small.
It should also be noted, in the case of 2024, that the Chinese driver consistently received updates later than his more experienced teammate.
Overall, then, Zhou can be considered a dependable candidate for Cadillac. Like Perez, he also brings significant sponsorship, which further strengthen his credentials.
Cadillac have spoken previously about wanting an American driver, with Colton Herta often cited as a leading candidate.
With that said, Herta still doesn’t have the Super License points to join the F1 grid.
Currently 7th in the IndyCar standings, the American might be unsuccessful in securing the required championship position to become eligible an F1 seat.
Should this be the case, it will boost Zhou’s chances for a seat.
The Ferrari reserve is also helped by his connections to Graeme Lowdon – Cadillac team principal.
Lowdon has spent several years in Zhou’s management team, adding another important variable to the US team’s driver equation.
