Cadillac negotiate with American driver in twist after deciding preferred F1 2026 lineup

Cadillac have not given up on the idea of signing an American driver to race for them when they make their grand Formula 1 entrance. The US-based outfit is forming what will become the sport's 11th team when it begins racing for the first time next year.

Having only been confirmed as a new entrant in March this year, Cadillac continue to work flat-out to get everything in place. That has meant that, up until recently decisions over their drivers have been on the back-burner – but it seems they have been making significant progress on that front in recent weeks.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon recently named seven drivers under consideration as he discussed his plans during a podcast appearance. Soon after, it emerged that two of them had been selected internally as the preferred choices for the team's debut season.

Experience is clearly the preferred trait as the two in question are bona fide F1 veterans. Valtteri Bottas, a 10-time race winner with Mercedes, is understood to be in advanced talks, while Sergio Perez is the other preferred option having won races with Red Bull up until the termination of his contract at the end of last season.

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But neither of them have put pen to paper yet and, while that remains the case, it would be foolish of Cadillac to rule out all other options. And it seems they are keeping them open for now, especially amid their original desire to field an American driver if at all possible.

Originally, the front-runner in that regard had been IndyCar driver Colton Herta. However, the 25-year-old does not currently qualify for an FIA superlicence which would need to change before he would be eligible to race an F1 car.

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But another American option has emerged in recent weeks as the Formula 2 title race has taken shape. Sitting third in the championship ahead of this weekend's action at the Hungarian Grand Prix is Jak Crawford, from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Previously part of the Red Bull academy set-up, the 20-year-old has been an Aston Martin junior driver since early 2024. But there is no prospect of him being elevated into one of their F1 race seats for 2026, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll already contracted.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Crawford admitted that he has held talks with Cadillac about a potential switch if he continues his fine progress in F2. "We're trying to find any space on the grid, whether it's with Cadillac or Aston Martin or some other teams," he said.

"There have been talks, I've been talking, but it's very slow at the moment. From my side, I just need to do a good job in Formula 2. There's nothing I can do to compete [with the experience of Bottas and Perez]. Actually, the only thing I can do is do well in F2. Other than that, I can't really do anything else."