Cadillac avoiding critical F1 'risk' with major decision

Cadillac has been praised by former F1 driver Derek Daly for eliminating the “risk factor” within its driver line-up.

The American F1 squad has confirmed it will field Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for its maiden campaign next year.

It marks one of the most experienced driver line-ups in F1 history, with over 500 grand prix starts between the pair. 

With Bottas and Perez being part of championship-winning squads at Mercedes and Red Bull respectively in the past, Cadillac can lean on that element as it looks to pose a threat to the other teams on the grid.

Cadillac was linked with a handful of other drivers, including rookies, before settling on an experienced pairing.

Daly believes the team would have run a great risk if it decided to bring in a youthful option.

“I believe it is,” Daly exclusively told RacingNews365 when asked if the experienced line-up will be critical for its early growth.

“The difficulty in F1, it's such a massive mountain to climb that you've got to take the risk element out of it, and with experienced drivers,  you automatically do that.

“I'm sure they've got a two, five and 10-year plan. They're not doing this for a couple of years.”

Cadillac will join as the second American team on the grid, 10 years on from Haas' debut season.

Haas is still awaiting its first podium result after over 200 races - but Daly believes Cadillac will enjoy a much more successful venture in F1.

“They're going to go a different route to Haas,” he said. “Haas will never win races and will never be truly competitive because they use other people's equipment. 

“They'll never be on the bleeding edge of development and have a car as good or better than other teams. 

“Cadillac's plan is to be a leader, to develop at a rate as good or better than the top team.

“But that's going to take years. You're talking three to five years before they're a legitimate contender. 

“But that's the way it should be. It should be that difficult.”