Cadillac in talks with Ferrari chief who played a key role in Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher’s careers

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Cadillac only have to watch eight more Formula 1 race weekends from the sidelines until they make their debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.

As part of their preparations for next year, Cadillac have been simulating race weekends and now have a confirmed driver line-up for 2026.

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas fought off plenty of competition to be confirmed by team principal Graeme Lowdon as Cadillac’s first driver pairing.

In the background, Cadillac are hard at work building up a workforce capable of delivering a competitive F1 car ahead of the sport’s changing regulations for next season.

That means they need all the experience they can get, and are looking at plenty of the most highly-rated people in the paddock to aid their cause.

Pat Symonds is already working behind the scenes at Cadillac, while the 1978 drivers’ championship winner Mario Andretti has been acting as an advisor throughout the process of entering F1.

Now, Cadillac are looking to Ferrari for their next big hire, and a man who helped Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton during their Formula 1 careers.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Cadillac now in ‘negotiations’ to sign Jock Clear ahead of Ferrari exit

A report from Motorsport has shared more details about Clear’s potential next move.

Clear is set to leave Ferrari at the end of the season, and is ‘in negotiations’ with Cadillac over a potential move to F1’s 11th team.

Lowdon was spotted at Monza, and it’s believed that the close connection between Ferrari and Cadillac could play a role in their talks.

Cadillac will use Ferrari power units next season, until General Motors are in a position to deliver their own, which is expected to be around the 2029 campaign.

On top of this, Cadillac could also use Ferrari’s gearbox and rear suspension, which will also feature on Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s 2026 car.

It puts Cadillac in a similar position to Haas as a Ferrari customer, although their ambition is to eventually be far more independent.

Clear has plenty of experience as a senior performance engineer when it comes to the ins and outs of how Ferrari’s cars work, which will be vital to Cadillac.

Not only that, but his work with the likes of Schumacher and Charles Leclerc will be crucial when it comes to working alongside Bottas and Perez.

READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers

Charles Leclerc raves about Jock Clear after previously working with Michael Schumacher

Clear started his F1 career with Lola before working for Benetton, Leyton House and Lotus.

He was an engineer for both David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve at Williams, and speaking about the experience in an interview with Motorsport Total after a stint in Schumacher’s camp at Mercedes, he said: “I worked with Schumacher as closely, openly, and well as I otherwise only did with Villeneuve. Even though he was completely different.

“Michael did some things on the track that annoyed Jacques.

“Jacques will never forgive Michael for Jerez 1997.

“For him, it will always remain a deliberate attack. Jacques has enormous respect for Michael because he’s a true racer.

“He was also happy when I told him I would be working with Michael.”

Clear followed Villeneuve to BAR in 1999 and stayed with the team when they became Brawn GP and then Mercedes, which is where he worked alongside Schumacher and Hamilton.

He joined Ferrari in time for the 2015 season, and in 2019, Leclerc was interviewed by GP Today and asked about Clear’s influence on his first season with the Scuderia.

Leclerc explained: “Jock has been helping me on a general view through the weekends, helping with both of my engineers, I have a performance engineer with me too.

“He is looking to see how the collaboration is with all of us, trying to help me in directions and the way I express myself to them.

“It’s very important, I think people underestimate how important it is to make it clear to the engineers exactly what you want.

“He has a lot of experience in how I should be expressing myself to them. After the weekend, we sit down together and he tells me the things we collaborated on better, the things that were positive.”

Clear raved about Oliver Bearman on his Ferrari debut last year, and given the breadth of teams and drivers he’s worked for over the decades, he should become a valuable asset to Cadillac ahead of next season.