Schumacher’s son on ‘list’ of drivers in the mix for F1’s new Cadillac team
Michael Schumacher’s son is on a shortlist of drivers who are well and truly in the mix to drive for Formula One’s new team next year.
Mick Schumacher is one of several drivers on a shortlist being considered by Cadillac for the team’s Formula One debut in 2026.
Preparation is in full swing for the General Motors brand to field a team next year in a landmark moment for F1, expanding the grid to 22 cars.
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Former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and current Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas are among the favourites to drive for Cadillac next season, but they are far from the only drivers in the mix.
The American outfit, backed by 1978 F1 world champion Michael Andretti, has been linked with several other drivers.
Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon confirmed to the High Performance podcast that Schumacher is one of the contenders to drive to the team.
“Yeah, we are talking to Mick,” Lowdon said.
“Yes, I know Valtteri really well,” he added about 10-time race winner Bottas.
“I think they (Schumacher and Bottas) have both proved a whole bunch of things,” Lowdon explained.
“Everyone wants to prove something else again. I never look at that as the biggest motivator. Our team is not there as a vehicle for someone to prove a point.
“Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, if you like, for someone to prove what they can do for sure. But it’s not a vehicle to kind of show the world to prove a point or whatever.
“Drivers are there to prove the best they possibly can for the team and they should be motivated for the team around them as well. I’m less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point.”
Perez and Bottas loom as the most likely driver pairing for Cadillac, who are not expected to challenge for race wins in their first season.
“Yes, we are talking (to Perez),” confirmed Lowdon.
“Mick is great,” Lowdon told Sky Deutschland. “He’s a very nice guy, I like him a lot. I’ve got to know him better now.
“He’s still young, but he already has Formula 1 experience. Of course, that was a while ago, but he’s kept himself up to date.
“He is no stranger to the team. He knows where we stand. There are some positive things to say about Mick.
“He is clearly one of the drivers on the list. But, I should also say that the list is quite long.”
Schumacher has support from an unlikely source in Guenther Steiner, who was critical of the German during their time together at Haas, where Steiner was team principal.
“I think Mick has a good chance,” the former F1 team boss told RTL.
“Cadillac needs a driver with experience in Formula 1 and there are currently not many drivers who don’t have a job but have already driven Formula 1.
“When he was a test driver at Mercedes, he didn’t race, but he learned a lot about a good big team.
“This knowledge of how a successful team works could help Cadillac.
“I don’t think they’ll take an American driver because the risk is just too great,” he added. “The guys have no experience in Formula 1 and then it can quickly backfire. That doesn’t help anyone.
“Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. All of them have experience in Formula 1. With Mick Schumacher, these are my four favourites.”
“Discussions are ongoing,” Schumacher told Motorsport.com Brazil.
“The communication has been very positive so far.
“They’ve already hired a fantastic number of people,” he added. “It’s an honour to be part of it, to negotiate with them, and a great position to be in.”
Schumacher, 26, served as Mercedes’ reserve driver in 2024 but has branched out in the World Endurance Championship and raced in Le Mans this year.
Lowdon also name checked other names including former F2 champion Felipe Drugovich and Red Bull academy driver Arvin Lindblad as some younger drivers in the mix if Cadillac picked a younger driver to develop.
“There are a bunch of young (drivers),” he said.
“There are some really good F2 drivers, Felipe Drugovich, Fred Vesti. The list kind of goes on.
“Arvid (Lindblad) is a really good guy. He has done a good job. He has Red Bull (as his backer).
Indy Car driver Colton Herta is the main American name mentioned as a potential option if Cadillac wants a local to drive for the team
“In Colton’s case, it’s the superlicence that’s the issue, but he can certainly drive a race car,” said Lowdon.
Bottas’ former Sauber teammate Guanyu Zhou, who is managed by Lowdon, is another name that’s been floated.
The F1 season continues this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri looks to claim his sixth win of the season.
Piastri leads his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by eight points heading into the second half of the year. The Brit is coming off consecutive victories in Austria and Silverstone.
Originally published as Schumacher’s son on ‘list’ of drivers in the mix for F1’s new Cadillac team
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