The weekend of the US GP naturally draws attention towards Formula 1’s two American-owned teams. This has prompted some uncomfortable inquiries for Cadillac amidst ongoing speculation regarding its driver line-up for 2027 and beyond.
Both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are tied to “multi-year” contracts, which are believed to be of the one-plus-one variety, where the second year is optional and dependent on various conditions being met by either party. Given the noticeable performance gap between the two, Bottas’s future has become a topic of paddock chatter for several months.
Marcin Budkowski, the newly appointed team principal, has found himself addressing this situation, as did his predecessor Graeme Lowdon. However, a somewhat peculiar moment arose during the FIA’s press conference for team representatives on Friday in Austin, indicating that Cadillac’s intentions may not be as definitive as previously thought.
The trigger was a soft inquiry from one of the broadcasters regarding Perez’s imminent 300th grand prix start: “How complex is it to assess a driver who’s battling at the back of the grid, yet appears to be having a better season than his teammate? And just regarding drivers, would you be inclined to have discussions with Esteban [Ocon] about a potential reserve role?”
In attempting to provide a suitably vague non-response, Budkowski began to struggle.
“Look, for a driver like Checo, who, as mentioned, possesses a wealth of experience and numerous races under his belt, I can assure you he does not act or drive like someone nearing retirement,” he stated.
“He’s pushing incredibly hard on the track. He’s also urging us to improve behind the scenes, engaging in debriefs and regularly messaging me and other team members to encourage enhancements. He’s eager, he’s driven, and that’s genuinely inspiring to see. He approaches it in his own distinctive manner.
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Photo by: Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
“We’ve got two drivers: one is more intense and the other is probably more laid-back, if that’s fair to say. They both push the team in their unique manners, but Checo is definitely driving us to improve. Observing his body language on the grid, once he dons his helmet and gets into the car, he appears ready for battle. There’s a palpable fire, a considerable motivation, and it’s genuinely remarkable for a driver with such experience.
“Simultaneously, we’re receiving his insights and feedback as a seasoned driver. So yes, it’s a great partnership.
“And regarding the second query about Esteban Ocon? Well, as a team principal, and I believe my colleagues experience this too, I receive inquiries and reach-outs from every driver or representative who is available in the market. Many drivers and managers have approached me.
“I’m not going to disclose any names, but effectively all who are available have been in contact, as would be anticipated. However, this is not the venue where I would announce details about the driver line-up.”
If William Shakespeare were present, he would undoubtedly craft a note indicating that the gentleman doth protest too much. Luckily for the Cadillac team principal, perhaps, Adrian Newey was present and became the focal point for most of the subsequent inquiries.
According to Motorsport.com, Ocon is highly improbable to join Cadillac, as he and Perez had a notoriously contentious relationship during their previous time together. He is likely to become Aston Martin’s third driver.
Regardless of whether Cadillac decides to keep Bottas for 2027, it is clear that the team’s owners aspire to secure an American driver in a race seat at the earliest possibility. The unexpected replacement of Lowdon this summer suggests that General Motors and TWG Motorsports’ ambitions seem to outpace the team’s current trajectory.
Cadillac had Colton Herta participate in FP1 at the Circuit of The Americas, but he remains a less conventional candidate for any racing opportunities since he falls just short of the requirements for a superlicence due to recent changes in the FIA’s qualifying criteria. If he manages to have substantial running in another session this year, he will qualify – yet his somewhat inconsistent performance in Formula 2 this season doesn’t serve as a strong endorsement.
“Clearly, having an American driver in an American team makes for a compelling narrative,” Budkowski shared with Sky Sports over the weekend.
“It’s essential that the timing is right and the driver is suitable. But we’re actively pursuing that, particularly with Colton.
“There’s an influx of promising American talents emerging through the ranks as well. We’ve witnessed Ugo Ugochukwu winning F3. We’ve got [Sebastian] Wheldon advancing to F3 next year.
“So there’s significant potential here, and we will certainly explore that.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
