Cadillac's application to join 2026 grid was approved last week — meaning the new team now has work to do in the driver market.

The Cadillac Formula 1 team will run the majority of its project out of its new facility in Indiana, but will only select an American driver as part of its line-up if they earn their place on

Cadillac F1 can now enter the driver market for F1 2026 and see six or more drivers not currently with a team who represent intriguing options. That is the claim made by team principal Graeme Lowdon,

Driver Colton Herta isn't sold on the idea of racing for the Cadillac F1 team, choosing to prioritize his 2025 IndyCar campaign instead.

A few drivers have been linked so far, including F1 cult hero Daniel Ricciardo, but one racer is tipped over all the others. Talented IndyCar and Andretti racer Colton Herta is the driver most commonly linked to Andretti, but former F1 engineer Gary Anderson doesn't think he is up for the job yet.

Dutch pundit Jack Plooij, speaking on Ziggo Sport, suggested George Russell could claim the second seat, particularly if Max Verstappen displaces the Briton at Mercedes. Meanwhile, Aston Martin simulator driver Dani Juncadella argued that overlooking Indycar standout Alex Palou for a Cadillac seat would be an extreme mistake.

Now its spot in Formula 1 for 2026 onwards is secure, the championship's newest team is on the hunt for its drivers

Lowdon explained that regardless of nationality, the Cadillac F1 Team's maiden drivers will be hired on merit.

Release the bald eagles, fettle those 108bhp 9.0-litre V8s and prepare to think up many more cliches, because Cadillac has received final approval to join the F1 grid in 2026. Yeehaw! Of course, we were pretty certain this day would eventually come,