Father of ex-F1 driver spotted at British Grand Prix amid Cadillac comeback rumours

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Cadillac have made clear what kind of drivers they want in their Formula 1 team for 2026. There are now eight months remaining before they make their official debut at the Australian GP.

The Americans want one Formula 1 veteran – likely to be either Valtteri Bottas or Sergio Perez – and one youngster. The dynamic will be similar to Sauber, where seasoned 239-race operator Nico Hulkenberg partners last year’s F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon has all but ruled out signing an active F1 driver. He’s shopping in the pool of free agents and reserves.

Haas, the last new entry to F1, didn’t announce their first driver – Romain Grosjean – until the September of year zero. Esteban Gutierrez was confirmed as his teammate the following month.

Mick Doohan is trying to secure a Cadillac seat for Jack Doohan

It’s recently emerged that Jack Doohan is a contender to race for Cadillac next year. It would be a risk to sign the Australian, who was dropped by Alpine just six races into 2025.

Doohan is unlikely to race for Alpine again despite remaining on the books as reserve driver. But his replacement, Franco Colapinto, hasn’t been an improvement, so much so that he could lose his seat after an identical period.

• READ MORE: Mercedes stance on Valtteri Bottas to Alpine shared after Franco Colapinto’s disastrous British Grand Prix

According to Julianne Cerasoli, Mick Doohan, the driver’s father and a motorcycle racing legend, is active in the paddock trying to line up a Cadillac move. Mick Schumacher, another contender with famous lineage, is also putting himself forward, along with Mercedes alternate Frederik Vesti.

“The second seat, which is the one for the young driver, is super competitive,” Cerasoli said on her YouTube channel. “Mick Schumacher was at Silverstone – he really wants that spot, and he’s being considered. He’s trying to put himself in a good position.

“Mick Doohan, Jack Doohan’s father, was seen there too. I heard that he’s trying to put Jack in that spot too.

“Everyone, even Frederik Vesti, the Danish driver, they’re calling [Cadillac to say] ‘I’m here, I know the Mercedes simulator’. Everyone is selling their fish.”

F1 reserve driver says he’s better than Jack Doohan – but will it be enough for Cadillac chance?

Another reserve driver in the running is Felipe Drugovich, who’s represented Cadillac in sportscar racing. According to Cerasoli, he regards himself as the best back-up in F1.

He points out that he’s never crashed an F1 car in extensive private testing, which has included 2026 tyre runs. That experience with Pirelli’s new rubber gives him a unique advantage.

Drugovich has also driven Formula E machinery, which will help him manage the sport’s far more powerful batteries next year. But this long list of incentives might not be enough for a driver who’s been repeatedly snubbed since his 2022 F2 triumph.

F1 Oversteer has learned that Zhou Guanyu is in line for a Cadillac seat next year. While he’s recently turned 26, he’s still 32 races short of a century in F1, so he may fill the ‘young’ driver spot.