Next season the Formula 1 grid grows by one team, as Cadillac joins the sport to become the 11th team.
The addition of a new F1 team means there are two open seats to be filled during the driver “silly season,” which has led to a tremendous amount of speculation over what two drivers the incoming American-based team will select. Ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon declared that the team is “advancing discussions” with a few drivers for next season.
“The good thing is we know a lot of the drivers who are out there,” Lowdon said in an interview with Sky Sports F1. “Both the younger guys who have been coming up through Formula 2 and also the more established drivers who have a lot of Formula 1 experience. We talk to these people all of the time and we try and spend time in the paddock as well.”
Lowdon then noted that while an announcement is not coming this week, fans should “watch this space” for news.
“We are advancing discussions with a number of drivers,” described Lowdon. “We won’t be announcing anything at Silverstone as such. But, I would say, watch this space.”
The Cadillac boss also indicated that the team’s priority has been developing their challenger for next season, as their arrival on the grid coincides with a new set of technical regulations that will reshape not just the cars, but the sport itself.
“The main focus up to now has been building the car. I think if we reach Melbourne and there was no car for a driver to drive, then nobody would thank us at all,” said Lowdon.
He was also asked about a social media post from veteran driver Valtteri Bottas, who has been consistently linked with one of the seats at the new team. Bottas, who is serving as a reserve driver with Mercedes this season, shared a video on social media marveling at a Cadillac SUV, and it’s nice “seat.”
Lowdon did not bite at the connection when speaking with Sky Sports F1.
“I saw that post – well, it shows he’s bought a Cadillac!
“But in terms of selecting the drivers, there’s a real mix of skills and we’re very lucky at the minute,” said Lowdon. “We’re out of synchronisation with the other teams at present, we’ve got a little bit of time and we can spend that time making sure that when we do announce the driver line-up, it’ll be the right one.
“We hope that the fans will be excited by it as well, and hopefully excited by the fact that there’s a new team on the grid that they can follow.”
Between the incoming Cadillac F1 team, and continued rumors regarding Toto Wolff’s pursuit of Max Verstappen for a spot at Mercedes, it seems driver silly season is kicking into gear.
