Cadillac names tension factor in deciding 2026 F1 driver line-up

Cadillac boss Graeme Lowdon believes there is a "lot less competitive tension" in 2025 as the team looks to form its driver line-up for 2026.

The General Motors-backed team is entering F1 as a Ferrari customer team in 2026, with the identity of the driver pairing yet to be confirmed. 

Despite recent speculation, Sergio Perez has not signed a deal with the team, with other drivers such as Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu also linked to one of the two seats.

Colton Herta has also been heavily linked to moving across from IndyCar, although he still does not hold enough points to earn an FIA super-licence and must finish fourth or higher in this season's championship to reach the 40-point threshold. 

However, Lowdon believes that the team has a better chance to observe the driver market going into 2026 and will ultimately decide its pairing "on merit" and no other factor.

"We've got a fairly good idea, and we've narrowed it down quite a bit," Lowdon explained to Sky Sports F1.

"We were effectively kept out of the last round of driver discussions because we didn't have an entry, and were in a slightly unusual position. 

"But it also means there is a lot less competitive tension, and we can take a little bit of time. 

"Obviously, the number one priority for us is to have something for the driver to drive, and that is where a lot of the management bandwidth is. 

"When it comes to an American driver, everyone would love to see an American driver in an American team with an American engine, but this is also a world championship.

"We have to select everybody on merit, and as we have said before, there is nothing stopping a boy or girl with an American passport from driving for an American Formula 1 team. 

"We'll select them on merit, and if the driver happens to be an American, that is something the fans would really like.

"But we've got to respect the world championship, and if we want to be competitive as we can, we must choose everyone in the team on merit."