2026 Cadillac Team Profile: Can Cadillac make a statement in their debut season?

2026 Cadillac drivers

Sergio Pérez: After five years at Red Bull Racing, Sergio Pérez returns to the grid with Cadillac, and is signed through at least the end of the 2027 season. Pérez had a successful tenure at Red Bull, but left the team after a rough 2024 season and was dropped, leading to a temporary departure from the sport. This year, Pérez will be looking to prove he is back and better than ever.

Valtteri Bottas: Like his teammate, Bottas brings a wealth of experience to Cadillac. He helped secure four Constructors’ titles for Mercedes before eventually being downgraded to reserve driver for Mercedes last season.

After spending several years as number two to Lewis Hamilton, Bottas wants to show he has what it takes to lead this team to success.

Cadillac technical breakdown

The CA01 is equipped with a Ferrari engine. At the Barcelona Shakedown earlier this year, Cadillac was 10th fastest on the circuit, beating out Aston Martin.

Team Principal Lowdon has kept expectations in check and shared that the team has not found any cause for “massive concern.” Preseason testing in Bahrain was positive, with the car running consistently, although far from the fastest on the grid.

Cadillac leadership and personnel changes

Graeme Lowdon: A former engineer, team manager, and CEO of Manor Racing. Lowdon was heavily involved in the Cadillac project as an advisor and has been tapped to see the team through its early days. Interestingly, Lowdon has also managed former Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu, Cadillac’s reserve driver this season.

Nick Chester: Formerly the technical director at Renault F1, Lotus F1, Mercedes Formula E, and McLaren Formula E. Chester joined the Cadillac project in January 2025.

2026 Cadillac performance expectations

Cadillac does not anticipate any performance miracles this year and is fully expecting to be at the back of the grid. However, Preseason testing in Bahrain has been positive, and focus has been on steadily building a team that can be competitive in the coming years.

Finishing anywhere outside of last in the Constructors’ Championship this year would be mission accomplished for this team.

Key questions for Cadillac going into the 2026 F1 season

1. What does success look like for this team?

Team Principal Graeme Lowdon has been open about having realistic expectations and finding small wins to keep building on the team’s success. Fans should certainly expect Cadillac to be near the bottom of the standings. The key will be capitalizing on the opportunities they do have to score points and keep races exciting during this growth period.

2. Who will be the number one driver between Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas?

In their debut season, Cadillac has chosen two experienced drivers. Bottas and Pérez have contributed to team championships, and both have been second-seat drivers next to the greatest drivers of all time. They are certainly hungry for more success in their F1 careers and have a great opportunity to do so with Cadillac.

Both drivers have something to prove after being forced to leave the sport not on their own terms. Bottas and Pérez are signed to multi-year contracts, and we can expect to see them with the team for at least the next two years. After this point, it’s possible that whoever is scoring fewer points could be replaced by younger talent.

3. Can Cadillac build a dedicated fanbase?

Cadillac’s emergence onto the circuit is a strategic move to tap into the American F1 market. The team has intentionally focused on the American demographic in their promotion, even revealing their livery during the Super Bowl.

Cadillac is not the first American team to emerge on the circuit. However, they have the power of a large budget and name recognition, which can attract a new market of fans. Pérez has also expressed his hopes of building Cadillac into the “team of the Americas.” That being said, Cadillac will need to give fans something to root for, and that means performing on track.

What does 2026 hold for Cadillac?

The best thing about being a brand-new team is that there are very few expectations. Cadillac has a unique opportunity to define what they want their legacy to look like and get fans excited about its potential.

F1 fans have every reason to be excited about Cadillac’s debut. While nobody is expecting Cadillac to challenge for the title, they could be setting themselves up for years of longevity in Formula 1.