Cadillac boss Graeme Lowdon has insisted the team will pick its debut Formula 1 line-up based on “merit” having been given the green light to enter discussions with drivers.
Last week F1 announced that Cadillac’s bid had been accepted to grant it access to the sport as the 11th team in 2026, coinciding with sweeping new rules being introduced.
The General Motors-backed organisation has been pressing ahead with expansive plans to assemble an F1 side since an initial intention to enter as Andretti began in 2023.
However, Cadillac was not permitted to engage in concrete discussions with individuals about a race drive until the FIA and F1 had approved the squad’s entrance.
But although that is no longer an obstacle, Cadillac has arrived at a time where the incumbent teams have tied down drivers to cover the impending regulation overhaul.
Lowdon, though, has highlighted that there are still several options available to Cadillac both inside and outside the F1 sphere as it aims to have the strongest pairing possible.
“We definitely select on merit,” Lowdon said. “Formula 1, it’s not a playground, this is the pinnacle of world motorsport.
“I think in terms of timing, it’s kind of a little bit odd because we’re out of sync with the other teams, we weren’t in the driver market during the fairly critical last round, so certain drivers are tied up for certain periods.
“Luckily for us, there are a lot of good drivers out there, unfortunately, we’ve not been able to be in the driver market until the entry was confirmed.
“It’s important for us to talk to a number of potential candidates. Do we see very talented drivers who currently aren’t on the grid? Yes, we do.
“We are going to be quite busy talking to a few people, my phone’s certainly been busy.
“What’s a little bit difficult because of the situation that we’re in as a new team, the timeline isn’t as laid out as it normally is.
“It’s normally quite clear for all of us involved in the driver negotiations.
“There are easily half a dozen, if not more candidates out there who offer extremely good credentials to be in Formula 1 or to be in Formula 1 again.”
Lowdon highlights Zhou amid management link
There are various F1 drivers with experience that are on the market, including Valtteri Bottas, Guanyu Zhou and Sergio Perez who have been resigned to time on the sidelines.
Zhou could have an edge given Lowdon is involved in his management team, but the Briton has denied that his relationship with the Ferrari reserve driver will have a bearing.
“It’s a little bit too early to go too much into any detail, because it’s only now that we’re able to have meaningful conversations,” Lowdon warned.
“But for sure, we want to have drivers that can contribute to the overall programme.
“I think Zhou’s done an exceptionally good job under difficult circumstances and what makes it actually quite useful for me is he doesn’t necessarily need to explain the background of his abilities because I’ve had a front row seat to see all that, so that’s a benefit.
“There’s the correct checks and balances in place, so there’s no favouritism in any particular direction towards him or any other driver that we may have involvement with on the grid.
“We’re there to do a job, so we’ll select drivers on merit. There are some really good ones out there, Zhou included.”
Cadillac open to having American driver
Mario Andretti, who is an advisor to the venture, revealed that an established F1 name alongside an up-and-coming American would be the ideal combination.
Lowdon has admitted that is a plausible scenario, but he stressed that an American would not be chosen over a more suitable candidate based solely on their nationality.
“The obvious question is whether we’ll have American drivers and personally, I see no reason why an American driver can’t be selected on merit as well,” he said.
“It’s certainly something that the fans would like to see, and I see no reason why that can’t happen. But the overriding objective is merit. We’ve got a job to do here.
“I don’t see any particular problem. I don’t envisage any particular problem on that front and as I said before, driver selection will definitely be on merit.
“What I’m trying to emphasise is just because someone’s American doesn’t mean that they can’t be a good Formula 1 driver.”
Herta F1 bow depends on FIA superlicense
Colton Herta is touted as the top American on the shortlist, though Lowdon highlighted that depends on him gaining the requisite points to be eligible for an FIA superlicense.
“With regard to Colton, so he doesn’t have the required number of superlicence points and if that were to remain the case, then that’s clearly an impediment for him,” he conceded.
“We can’t choose a driver that doesn’t have the points, that is just the real world that we live in and we just have to take that into account.
“Does his lack of reaching or the lack of being at the threshold for the superlicence in any way affect his ability to drive a race car? No.
“He’s incredibly talented, so it’s not shock news that we would be looking to Colton alongside a whole bunch of other drivers as well.
“He’s not the only one actually in that situation and he won’t be the first, he won’t be the last driver where there’s some uncertainty due to superlicence points.
“But we just have to live with that. That’s a regulation. We just have to respect it.”
READ MORE – Who should Cadillac charge with leading the American F1 dream?
