Cadillac warned to shun Bottas – Formula 1 is no stranger to speculation, and in what is a fairly dull river market this year, Cadillac’s looming debut in 2026 is creating an increasing debate over who they will put in their cars next year. For the first time since 2016 the F1 grid will expand beyond 20 cars, and with two new seats available the floodgates have opened for drivers young and old to pitch themselves for a chance to shape America’s first fully-fledged F1 team in decades.
Cadillac, backed by General Motors and aligned with Ferrari as its power unit supplier, has already confirmed its January test programme. But the identity of its drivers remains an open question. Several names are in contention, and the rumour mill has been turning at full tilt.
On one side are the safe hands: Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, veterans with experience, podiums and the sort of technical feedback that could accelerate a new team’s development. On the other side are younger options: Mick Schumacher, desperate for a way back into F1, and Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin’s reserve driver and 2022 Formula 2 champion, who has quietly impressed behind the scenes.
Alonso weighs in
Two very different voices are currently shaping the conversation. Fernando Alonso has sung the praises of Drugovich, calling him “incredible” and arguing that it is only a matter of time before the Brazilian deserves a full-time F1 seat. Meanwhile, Nelson Piquet Jr has bluntly advised Cadillac to walk away from Bottas altogether, arguing that the American team’s Ferrari engine ties should push them toward someone from the Maranello “family” instead.
Fernando Alonso is not known for handing out compliments lightly. So when the two-time F1 champion called Felipe Drugovich “incredible” and praised his simulator work and professionalism, the paddock takes notice. The Spaniard has worked closely with the 25-year-old during their shared time at Aston Martin and claims he has already proven he can deliver when called upon.
“It would be great to see him in F1,” Alonso said recently. “Formula 2 was a demonstration, and we can see it here every day when we work with him. The simulator work, the free practice sessions, he’s always delivering the performance the team was asking, even with very limited kilometres.”
Cadillac warned to shun Bottas
Drugovich, who won the 2022 F2 title, has since been Aston Martin’s go-to reserve and development driver. He has made occasional FP1 appearances, most recently in Hungary, and has drawn positive feedback from engineers for his consistency and technical understanding. Alonso believes it is only a matter of time before those talents are given a full season in a race seat.
For a brand-new team like Cadillac, Alonso’s message was clear: here is a driver who could grow alongside your project, rather than a stopgap hire. While Alonso campaigns for youth, Nelson Piquet Jr took believes Cadillac should be wary of a particular pitfall. Speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast, the former Renault driver argued that Cadillac should stay away from Bottas, even though the Finn is believed to be close to a deal.
“Why wouldn’t you pick someone from the Ferrari family?” Piquet asked. “I don’t know if Bottas would leave the Mercedes family. I don’t think it makes much sense both commercially and for Cadillac itself as a driver.”
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Bottas, currently Mercedes’ reserve after his full-time career wound down at Sauber, was seen by many as an ideal fit for Cadillac: experienced, technically astute, and still motivated. He has hinted on social media that a deal is close, and reports suggest he has been “guaranteed” a 2026 seat. But Piquet’s comments underline a key point: Cadillac is not just any team. It is Ferrari-powered, and Ferrari will almost certainly want influence over who drives their engines.
Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas are the two most obvious candidates. Between them they have over 470 Grand Prix starts, 77 podiums and a wealth of experience developing cars. For a new entrant like Cadillac, whose engineers will need feedback from day one, that kind of knowledge is invaluable.
Pérez, 35, would bring more than just experience. He also carries commercial weight, particularly in Latin America, a region where Cadillac’s parent company GM may want to expand its influence. Bottas, meanwhile, has spent a decade embedded in Mercedes’ development culture and would provide technical credibility.
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Yet both come with drawbacks. Bottas no longer carries sponsor backing, meaning he offers little off-track leverage. Pérez, while commercially attractive, is entering the twilight of his career. Cadillac would have to ask themselves whether signing him is about building for the long term or buying stability for a launch season.
Mick Schumacher, having spent time as Mercedes’ reserve and tested Ferrari machinery, is another name in the mix. His family name would undoubtedly generate headlines, especially in Ferrari-linked circles. But his previous F1 stint with Haas ended without a clear statement of potential.
It is expected that Cadillac will sign the young German who is currently racing for Alpine in the World Endurance Series and switch him for Jenson Button in their Cadillac Jota WEC team. Mick cold then act as the reserve driver for the F1 team and his work in the simulator was highly praised by Lewis Hamilton during his Mercedes years.
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Who do Cadillac want to be?
Felipe Drugovich, by contrast, has no famous surname but plenty of momentum. At 25, he represents a genuine investment in the future. He lacks F1 race experience but has impressed in limited opportunities, and his youth offers Cadillac the chance to shape him into the face of their project.
It is here that Alonso’s comments matter most. When a two-time world champion calls a reserve driver “incredible,” team principals tend to listen.
This is not really about who Cadillac *can* sign. It is about what Cadillac wants to be. If the Americans want to play it safe, Bottas and Pérez are the obvious choices: dependable, experienced, but unlikely to set the world alight. If they want to generate headlines, Schumacher is the marketing pick. If they want to make a bold statement and build for the future, Drugovich is the risk worth taking.
Go safe, or risk it?
Nelson Piquet Jr’s comments highlight a truth the Americans cannot ignore: Ferrari will have a say. As Cadillac’s power unit supplier, Maranello will not be indifferent to who drives their engines. A “Ferrari family” driver – whether Drugovich, Schumacher, or another protégé – would make commercial sense and keep the Italians sweet. Bottas, in that light, begins to look like a square peg in a round hole.
And then there is Alonso. The Spaniard knows a talented young teammate when he sees one, and when he starts championing someone, there are usually two motives: to see them get their shot, and to test himself against them. When Alonso calls Drugovich “incredible,” it should be taken seriously.
Ultimately, Cadillac’s dilemma is simple. They can hire names the sport already knows and risk being just another midfield entry, or they can bet on the future and take the risk of nurturing a rookie into a leader. The former might keep them safe. The latter might make them more relevant.
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