Cadillac’s Bold F1 Entry: Why Enthusiasm Trumped Everything for Bottas and Pérez

When the news dropped that Cadillac would enter the Formula 1 fray with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, the paddock consensus was a quiet, knowing nod. It made perfect sense. For a giant like Cadillac, building an F1 team from the ground up, snagging two drivers with decades of combined experience is a no-brainer. They bring a wealth of knowledge, a deep understanding of car dynamics, and a history of navigating the treacherous political waters of the sport.

It’s the safe, logical play. But Team Principal Graeme Lowdon sees it differently. While experience is invaluable, it wasn’t the top line on the job description. For him, another, more intangible quality was the deciding factor, and of course, pure, unadulterated enthusiasm.”Obviously, it’s clear for everyone we’ve gone for experience with Valtteri and Checo,” Lowdon shared in a recent interview. “

But when we told each driver, there was that spark of excitement as well, and, for me, that’s what I look for. If you have an enthusiastic driver line-up, that helps gel everything together. And that’s what we’re building now, it’s a team and teams are all about people.”This isn’t just corporate fluff. In Formula 1, a driver’s motivation can be the invisible engine that powers the entire factory. A driver who is merely collecting a paycheck is dead weight.

But a genuinely thrilled driver, who feels that fire in their belly to build something new? That energy is infectious. It ripples through the engineering department, the mechanics in the garage, and the strategists on the pit wall. It transforms a group of employees into a cohesive, fighting unit. For a new team like Cadillac, that spirit is more valuable than any data sheet.

Can Cadillac’s Chosen Duo Get Up to Speed?

The question on everyone’s lips, of course, is whether these two veterans can still deliver. Pérez, after his stint away, might seem like a gamble. But Lowdon is confident. “I don’t think he will have forgotten how to drive, that’s for sure,” he remarked. “He’s doing a bit of karting and we’ll have him on the simulator quite soon. We’re going to do some testing in real-world cars as well. So I’ve got no doubts that he’ll be back up to speed in time.”

For Bottas, his continuous presence in the paddock is a huge asset. He hasn’t stepped away; he’s been in the thick of it, living and breathing the engineering debriefs and the ever-shifting technical landscape. As Lowdon noted, “It’s quite valuable to have a driver who hasn’t left the paddock, so each weekend he’ll be in all the engineering meetings, his mind staying sharp.” This isn’t about knowing design secrets; it’s about being mentally attuned to the rhythm and pace of a Formula 1 weekend.

The 2026 Regulations: A Golden Opportunity for Cadillac

The timing for Cadillac’s entry couldn’t be better. The 2026 season will see one of the biggest technical shake-ups in recent history, with sweeping changes to both aerodynamics and power units. This regulatory reset levels the playing field. Every team, from the reigning champions to the newcomers, will be starting from a similar point.

Crucially, this clean slate comes with more track time. Unlike a standard season with just three days of testing, 2026 will feature significantly more preseason running. “We’ll have three times the amount of testing, so that will help get them up to speed as well,” Lowdon confirmed. This is a massive advantage for a new operation like Cadillac, giving them precious time to iron out kinks, understand their new machinery, and allow Bottas and Pérez to dial themselves in.

What Does Success Look Like for Cadillac’s F1 Project?

Lowdon is a pragmatist. He’s not making bombastic predictions of podiums and victories in their debut season. He understands the monumental challenge ahead. The Formula 1 grid is a shark tank, filled with organizations that have been honing their craft for decades.

“The competition is absolutely insane and intense and we have to recognise that,” he stated soberly. “If a new team were to come in and immediately be competitive against them, then you’d be pretty upset and pretty angry. And so, we know it’s a huge challenge.”

So, what’s the goal? Respect. “It’s very difficult to quantify what success can look like other than we just have to execute as well as we possibly can and gain respect from the other competitors,” Lowdon concluded. “I think that’s always the first target because, if we do that, then we know that we will be doing a good job.”

Final Thoughts

For Cadillac, the journey into Formula 1 is about more than just lap times. It’s about proving they belong. By prioritizing passion and building a team with a genuine hunger to compete, they’re laying a foundation that’s about more than just engineering—it’s about heart. And in the cutthroat world of F1, that might just be their greatest strength.