Cadillac now see ‘perfect’ F1 driver as a ‘win-win’ signing but they do not want him to race

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Cadillac’s plans for the team’s debut in the 2026 F1 season are starting to take shape, with the General Motors brand making progress in naming their debut driver line-up.

The American squad have strived to take their time before signing any stars since Formula 1 confirmed in March that General Motors had secured a spot on the 2026 grid for its Cadillac brand. It will be the first time since the 2016 F1 season that the field has featured 11 teams.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon has sought to speak with several drivers in recent months to set the best course of action for Cadillac’s arrival. It is widely expected that Cadillac will sign at least one experienced racer, but they might yet elect to partner them with a rookie talent.

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, in particular, are widely said to be in the lead of the race for one of the seats in Cadillac’s 2026 driver line-up. It is also possible that they both might race for the new kid on the block, but Perez and Bottas have not signed contracts for Cadillac yet.

Mick Schumacher signing for Cadillac as a 2026 F1 reserve driver is a ‘win-win deal’

Cadillac’s attention is also already turning to who could be their reserve driver in 2026, with Mick Schumacher emerging as a leading option for the back-up role. According to The Race,  the 26-year-old signing for the GM brand is even considered a ‘win-win deal’ for them both.

READ MORE: Who is Mick Schumacher? All to know about Michael Schumacher’s son

Schumacher has long been on Cadillac’s radar due to his experiences in F1, both on the grid with Haas in 2021 and 2022 and as a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2023 and 2024. But the German is now expected to have to accept just a reserve role if he is to join Cadillac in 2026.

Cadillac see great value in signing Schumacher as they could draw on what he learned in F1, and especially at Mercedes. The move can even suit Schumacher’s dream to return to F1 by embedding himself in a team while still racing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Schumacher, who currently races with Alpine in the WEC, is considered the favourite to join Cadillac’s WEC team run by Jota Sport, as 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button will leave at the end of this season. Accepting the dual role may suit both Cadillac and Schumacher in 2026.

Mick Schumacher is not yet out of the running to drive for Cadillac in the 2026 F1 season

But all the while Cadillac are yet to sign a driver to guide their arrival in F1, Schumacher will still hope to claim a race seat. F1 Oversteer has exclusively reported that Schumacher is still very confident about driving for Cadillac in the 2026 F1 season, with both seats still on offer.

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

The German is determined to return to the F1 grid, and has a good chance to do so with the General Motors brand next year. Schumacher only enjoyed two years in F1 after winning the 2020 F2 title, which saw him score 12 points through his 44 Grand Prix entries (starting 43).

Andrea Stella and Toto Wolff wanted Schumacher to join Williams in 2024 as the Grove crew sought to replace Logan Sargeant. But James Vowles opted to field Franco Colapinto during the final nine rounds ahead of Carlos Sainz joining at the expiration of his contract at Ferrari.

Mercedes boss Wolff feels Schumacher is capable of doing a “perfect job” in F1, having seen first-hand what the German can offer through his time as the Silver Arrows’ reserve driver in 2023 and 2024. Schumacher left Mercedes at the end of 2024 to pursue new opportunities.