Why Cadillac's F1 Team Isn't Going To Have An American Driver

Speaking with F1.com, analysts James Hinchcliffe and Lawrence Barretto suggested that while the team is expected to start with a proven, experienced driver lineup, there’s a strong pool of U.S. talent that could step into a race seat in the coming years.

The pair sees drivers like Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Jak Crawford as prime candidates down the line. Herta has already impressed in a McLaren F1 test and was previously pursued by AlphaTauri (Racing Bulls) but he didn't meet the super licence requirements. Herta's Andretti teammate, Kirkwood, currently leads him in IndyCar standings.

Both drivers are part of the same management group tied to Cadillac—TWG Motorsports— meanwhile Crawford is making strides in Formula 2. Cadillac's team performance must come before jingoistic sentiment—but having an American in the seat is clearly a long-term goal.

Barretto agrees, saying that an early reserve role could be the smart move for any young American driver looking to break into F1. With Cadillac investing heavily and hiring Graeme Lowdon as team principal, he believes the operation could be competitive within a few seasons, creating a prime opportunity for a homegrown driver to make the jump once the team is established.

Of course, much of the team's future competitiveness will be tied to the success of General Motors' F1 engine program.

The problem is, there just aren't enough American drivers with F1-calibre talent right now. Herta's good, but quite frankly, he just isn't it. Kirkwood is a magician behind the wheel on his day, but his days seem to be far too infrequent to reliably gather points—and cash—for a developing outfit.

Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas as leading candidates for the team’s inaugural driver lineup, thanks to their depth of F1 experience and proven track records within big teams.

Multiple sources report that Cadillac is finalizing plans with both Pérez and Bottas, with negotiations described as “close to completion.” Mick Schumacher is also reportedly in the mix, but carries a far less impressive F1 resume than a pair of proven race winners and constructors champions.

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