Source: Official Team Post via X
Cadillac F1 Deliberates 2027 Driver Lineup Amid Herta and Bottas Speculation
Cadillac F1 team principal Marcin Budkowski emphasizes the importance of timing in choosing an American driver as Colton Herta and Valtteri Bottas vie for a 2027 seat alongside Sergio Perez. With Perez secured under a new deal, the team remains unhurried in finalizing its lineup.
Cadillac F1's team principal, Marcin Budkowski, has shed some light on the team's considerations for the 2027 driver lineup. While there's a clear desire to have an American driver, Budkowski stresses that the timing must be right for the team as they ponder their options for the seat alongside Sergio Perez, who has recently renewed his contract for the next three seasons.
Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, where Perez is the local hero, Cadillac announced his contract extension, but the future of Valtteri Bottas remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Colton Herta has been making waves, participating in his fifth FP1 session with Cadillac in Mexico. Although it was initially believed this would secure his FIA Super Licence, it turns out he still needs another 100km session to meet the requirements.
Adding to the intrigue, Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti has publicly expressed his desire to join Cadillac in 2027. His performance in the Mexico FP1 session, where he was just a tenth off teammate Kimi Antonelli, has certainly caught the team's attention. Antonelli, for his part, is on the verge of clinching the Drivers' title.
Given Cadillac's strong American identity and expanding operations stateside, Budkowski acknowledges the appeal of an American driver. "It's an American team," he told Sky F1, highlighting the potential hype an American driver could bring. However, he insists that the decision must align with the team's readiness.
"This season, having Colton as part of the team was pivotal," Budkowski added. Herta has been involved in simulator development and has participated in more FP1 sessions than initially planned due to an unfortunate incident in Monza.
As for Herta's readiness to join the F1 grid, Budkowski is cautious. Herta, who transitioned from IndyCar to Formula 2, has faced challenges and currently sits 19th in the standings. Meanwhile, Perez's strong performances both on and off the track have been instrumental to the team, making him a valuable asset.
Bottas, on the other hand, has shown flashes of potential, notably with a strong performance in Austin, but has struggled with consistency. His P13 finish in China remains Cadillac's best result to date, yet he often falls short of Perez's pace. Budkowski admits the team is still trying to pinpoint the underlying issues.
"It's a very good question," Budkowski said when asked about Bottas' performance inconsistencies. "We’re a new team, and the car was put together quickly by a group that hadn't worked together before. We have to acknowledge that we're not providing the best equipment yet."
The team is committed to working with Bottas and the engineering crew to understand and resolve these challenges. For now, Cadillac is in no hurry to finalize their second driver, taking time to ensure they make the best decision for their future.