Cadillac share F1 driver update: 'The daggers are out'

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss has claimed "the daggers are out" when it comes to securing experienced drivers, like Valtteri Bottas, for the American squad's first season in the championship.

The General Motors-backed operation was green-lighted earlier this year and will join the 2026 grid, when a sweeping regulations overhaul comes into place.

Having secured a customer power unit deal with Ferrari whilst it prepares for future works team status, the biggest noise surrounding Cadillac has been who it will choose for its two race seats.

There is considerable intrigue over whether the team will opt for two experienced hands or plump for a fresher face, an American, or someone already racing for the marque in a different series.

When asked about how things were progressing on that front and what the main focus was for the team, Towriss took the opportunity to have some fun with the secrecy of the current conversations.

"There's a lot of work, you know, a lot of clandestine meetings in dark corners of the paddock and bars and pubs across the UK as we talk to drivers," he joked to Sky Sports F1.

Addressing the matter more seriously, he added: "But it's a big effort. These are important seats. There's so many great drivers. I've been so impressed with the young drivers, the experienced drivers.

"As Graeme [Lowdon] has said, our team principal, we really are looking at experience for this first year, that's so important in a new team.

"But there's a lot of things to consider. And we're making sure to take our time and do our [due] diligence, but man, what an impressive lot of drivers in this series."

Bottas, who Towriss called a "very attractive candidate", recently went viral when he shared a video on social media where he commented on how "nice" the seats of a Cadillac SUV were.

The Finnish driver is reported to be high up on the team's wishlist, along with the likes of Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda.

However, the American squad face competition for Bottas' signature from Alpine, looking to solve its second seat difficulties ahead of the rules reset, and becoming a Mercedes power unit customer, next year.

When asked if that puts Cadillac under any pressure, Towriss replied: "Yeah, the daggers are out from that standpoint."