United States Grand Prix boss Bobby Epstein has hailed the impact Cadillac and the possibility of Colton Herta being on the F1 grid could have on the future of his race.
Cadillac joins the grid next season after finally being accepted as F1's 11th team following an arduous process to gain acceptance from the sport, following the FIA's initial seal of approval.
Although experienced campaigners Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have been confirmed as Cadillac's driver line-up for next year, the team already has one eye on the future.
Cadillac recently confirmed that nine-time IndyCar race winner Colton Herta will serve as its test and development driver in 2026, dovetailing that programme with an F2 seat in a bid to secure his super licence that would allow him to compete in F1 in 2027.
The Circuit of the Americas contract with F1 expires at the end of next season, although he is "optimistic" of a long-term renewal, expressing "little doubt that they would want to do anything but continue, and likewise, so do we".
That would pave the way for future opportunities with Cadillac, and with Herta, should he be in F1 in 2027, or beyond.
"I think Cadillac is going to be really great for us and for the sport," said Epstein, speaking to select media, including RacingNews365.
"They were here this past weekend for WEC [Lone Star Le Mans], and I think they're going to be very engaged, as a brand, which could be great.
"I think about all the possibilities of the things we can do together, because they're a manufacturer, so the hot-lap ride could be a Cadillac ride, to a Cadillac garage tour, to having a focus on getting an American driver.
"That constellation is going to be very good for us.
"And for the sport's sake, separate from just COTA and the grand prix at our track, if there were an American champion driver, that would go much farther. That would take it to the next level."
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Cadillac the last-place team? No chance! Oh!
Epstein has revealed being confused over a particular aspect of F1 ahead of Cadillac's impending arrival, relating to the garage system in the pit lane.
As is customary, the first garage on approach is taken by the constructors' champions for any given year, proceeding down the pit lane to the final garage for the team that finished last.
Epstein was convinced that by the time the USGP rolls around next year, the garage would not be occupied by Cadillac.
"So we have to build new garages, because there's another team on the grid," he said.
"And someone said, 'Well, you're building the Cadillac garages, and those garages are the ones that the last place team is in'.
"And I said, 'What makes you think that garage is going to be for Cadillac? Because I don't expect them to be the last-place team'.
"And he said, 'Well, it goes by the year before', so I forgot about that.
"So automatically, by default, those are the Cadillac garages. I was like, 'They're not going to be the last-place team'."
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