Aston Martin Sporting Director Andy Stevenson has warned that Cadillac could mount a “genuine challenge” on the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
The American squad will begin its F1 journey this year after many years of trying to obtain the approval of the FIA and the other 10 teams, under previous guises.
Cadillac, already boasting a Silverstone facility and a wide array of experienced technical staff – as well as former Marussia boss Graeme Lowdon – have fully begun preparations.
Not only have the team completed race simulations both from a car simulator and technical/pit wall bent, but have already put in on-track miles via a loaned two-year-old Ferrari SF-23.
And with a strong simulator line-up to support race drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, Cadillac appears to really mean business ahead of its debut campaign.
And Stevenson, speaking alongside other high-ranking technical figures ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November last year, is not ruling out Cadillac springing some surprises.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s very difficult for us to say how Cadillac are going to manage it,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“They’re obviously putting together a very professional team and they have good finances behind them.
“As for Checo, I’m a huge fan of Checo and I’d love to see him relaunch his career. He’s a fantastic talent.
“He’s a great race driver and I think it will be great to see him back on the circuit again. So I’m looking forward to that.
“I’m hoping that Cadillac don’t go too well, but they’re certainly someone that we’re not going to dismiss.
“Yeah, they are a genuine challenge and from what we’ve seen so far, they’ll be a very professional outfit.”
‘Don’t underestimate Cadillac’ with debut coinciding with new F1 regulations
Cadillac’s entry coincides with F1’s new regulation cycle, which is posing a challenge for all the 11 teams, subsequently conveying a huge breadth of unpredictability.
This could give the team a boost to its chances, despite its nascency, with developments expected to continue throughout the year, and along with that, fluctuating fortunes for teams.
Speaking alongside Stevenson, Deputy Technical Director of Mercedes, Simone Resta, agreed with Stevenson’s assessment, saying that Cadillac is “investing a lot, they are hiring a lot of people they’re approaching the problem in a nice way, as far as we can see from outside.”
The Italian added: “It’s a lot of challenges, like we said, but also they’ll count on a Ferrari power unit, so they’ve got one problem less, let’s say, to look after and I think they can be in the mix.
“We’ve seen in some of the small teams, like it happened, for example, in my previous experience at Haas, that you can start a new cycle with a very small team and do nice things from the beginning, so I wouldn’t underestimate them.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but everyone can do it.”
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