The Cadillac team will enter Formula 1 in 2026 as the eleventh on the grid. In the course of the current season, the managers had made some important statements regarding what was to happen next year. Unfortunately, however, the latest news do not leave much room for interpretation. There have been second thoughts and with these also small-large disappointments.
Andretti-Cadillac will join the paddock as a customer team and will have the brand new Ferrari power unit (designed to be consistent with the regulations present in the next technical regulation with partner General Motors who could take over later) to push it towards important goals. Obviously, however, to increase the chances of achieving excellent results and developing the car in the best possible way, Mario Andretti (one of the key figures of the project) had made some considerations on the new line-up which could also be assimilated to important promises in some ways (read here).
For a new team, getting points is the most important thing. An essential must. So clearly, Andretti has never hidden his desire to choose an expert in order to have some sort of guarantees on his side. The name that circulated most in the paddock at the beginning of the year was that of Sergio Perez, immediately taken for granted in some cases. However, the other seat should have gone to a young man, probably an American, the entrepreneur and former F1 driver had always said.
Perez-Bottas for greater solidity, but there is disappointment
Unfortunately, the official announcement in the past few hours was an iced shower for the many talents in the cadet categories, including IndyCar. Apparently no young person will be paired with Sergio Perez, much less Valtteri Bottas, in charge of bringing Cadillac cars to the track next year.
An afterthought that brings with it a bit’ of disappointment. In addition to the many talents, also for the fans. Having two more seats on the grid left open hope in seeing the nursery of drivers capable of performing at the highest levels of motorsport grow.
However, this is confirmation of the difficulties that managers have in trusting drivers with little experience. F1 is not for everyone and another test comes with Red Bull, which after various attempts then chose to keep Tsunoda within the team, despite managing to collect only 7 points since he became his teammate of Max Verstappen.
Read in the original language (the article in Italian was written before the official announcement, it has been revised for the English version): Cadillac, Andretti aveva fatto altre promesse. Primi ripensamenti e delusioni
Photo: Red Bull Racing
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