Cadillac will enter Formula 1 in 2026 after paying a million-dollar sum for what is known as an anti-dilution fee. According to various reports, including one from RacingNews365, the US company had to pay approximately $450 million to secure its place as the eleventh team on the grid. The next step is to sign drivers for 2026, its first full season in the ‘Big Circus’.
Cadillac won’t wait much longer for Sergio Pérez
The payment of this anti-dilution fee is a measure established in the 2021 Concorde Agreement, the purpose of which is to compensate existing teams for the reduction in their income from the distribution of championship prize money.
In that agreement, the initial figure set for any new team was $200 million. However, with the increasing value of teams and their profitability in recent years, several teams considered that amount to be insufficient. This led to a significant increase in the sum Cadillac had to pay to join F1.
This means that, even though it is a reputable brand in the world of motor racing, the American company also needs, or at least is tempted to have, a few pay drivers who, in addition to their talent and speed, can bring in a good amount of money in the form of sponsors. This is especially true after the large outlay they have had to make to be on the grid as the 11th team. That is why they want to confirm their first driver now.
Zhou Guanyu and Felipe Drugovich, in Cadillac’s orbit. Mick Schumacher, the most serious
This is where several rumors have surfaced about the drivers who could make their debut in Cadillac’s F1 project. The most talked about is Sergio Pérez, who has been linked to the team since the news broke. However, negotiations have not been as easy as initially expected. So much so that Cadillac made an initial offer to Sergio Pérez in recent weeks, which he has, so far, rejected. The Guadalajara native believes that if he returns to F1, it must be with a team capable of fighting for important things, and he believes that Cadillac, at least in 2026, will not be that team.
With more thought given to the second seat and looking ahead to the future, Cadillac has its sights set on three interesting talents. At this point, there are two names that are in serious contention for one of the two seats in the team. One is Zhou Guanyu, Sauber/Kick driver until 2024, and the other is the 2022 Formula 2 champion and current Aston Martin reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich.
Guanyu could be ahead due to his relationship with Graeme Lowdon, who will be Cadillac’s new boss, while Drugovich is an interesting driver who already deserves to make his F1 debut after spending several seasons as a reserve driver for Silverstone, in the shadow of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Mick Schumacher is a great solution if Herta rejects F1
Also appearing on the radar is Valtteri Bottas, who, after moving to the role of reserve driver at Mercedes and McLaren, is unhappy and thinking about continuing his efforts to get back on the grid. His name has also been linked, although not officially by the new team. From 2022 until the end of last season, he was part of the Alfa Romeo team and also the current Kick Sauber team.
In any case, beyond the Mexican’s ‘tug of war’, the US team has other names in the pipeline who would not only be good options as second drivers, but even to lead the project. This is in case Sergio Pérez ultimately decides not to drive for them. The latest to join the list is Mick Schumacher.
Many observers believe that Mick Schumacher could be the ideal replacement if Sergio Pérez does not sign or if Colton Herta succumbs to the siren song coming from Cadillac. He is a well-established driver in the United States and one of the country’s greatest motorsport talents. For Colton, one of the stars of Indycar, the prospect of a long learning curve in F1, both for him and for the team, does not seem very attractive.
Furthermore, in the event that the son of the seven-time world champion, who already drove for Haas in 2021 and 2022, is also a driver to be reckoned with and valuable for the money he brings with him. This also ties in with what happened at the Miami Grand Prix.
Before traveling to Spa to race in the third WEC race with Alpine, Mick visited F1 and had conversations with people from Cadillac. He also attended the party they threw to launch their team logo. Incidentally, Sergio Pérez was also expected that weekend, but he never showed up.
Mick has been out of F1 for three years, which means he needs to score some points with his current WEC program. Despite his podium finish with Alpine in the last WEC race, it won’t be easy for him to get the points he needs. There is always the possibility of a “special dispensation” from the FIA.
However, as we said, since leaving Haas at the end of 2022, Mick has not managed to establish himself as a regular driver for any F1 team, despite his efforts. After spending 2023 and 2024 as a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren, and with his current focus on the World Endurance Championship with Alpine, Michael Schumacher’s son has not lost sight of his true goal: to return to the top level of motorsport. Perhaps this time with Cadillac…