Cadillac backed General Motors joins the Formula 1 circus after multiple rejects with Andretti backing. They will enter in 2026 as a customer team before using their own engine by 2028 if hopefully they remain in the sport by that Season. This announcement came by very much as a surprise due to the withdrawal of Michael albeit his father Mario will remain as a director. This getting a greenlight, the next step over late 2024 and 2025 the talk of who will be behind the two cars will begin, the next phase. Who are the favourites or the most likely based on what we know currently? The chance ratings are my personal thoughts.
Colton Herta
Colton is American and currently drives for Team Andretti, they may not have the Andretti badge but a chance for some return for the name? Colton with his recent finish in 2024 P2. The investor of the team Dan Towriss is a big fan of him much like would put him in pole position as long as either he gets passing from the FIA, as the Indycar Series is absurdly underrated. If he has a strong 2025 there would be no issue.
Chance: 9/10
Alex Palou
Alex is the 2024 Indycar Champion, and has been under talks through 3 teams in the past couple seasons being Mclaren, Sauber & Red Bull but none of them ever matieralised. He made one Free Practice appearance with Mclaren in 2022 at the United States GP and was the reserve driver in 2023 doing the mid-season tyre test. He also competes for the Cadillac backed team in the IMSA series. A strong chance for Alex to be one of few champions in America to move to F1.
Chance: 8/10
Jak Crawford
Andretti reserve driver for 2024-25 so some link there with the name being a director on the board. He has a solid link with F1 as no over score as prune few seasons with them and is due to partake in the end of Season test with Aston Martin.
It could be a chance to take a driver off a rival, who will continue to grow in confidence, only 19 presently so skills will ever improve.
Chance: 7/10
Checo Perez
If the team go for a one experienced driver and one rookie then no look no further. If Red Bull decided to give Checo the drop for 2025 or 2026 due to current situation then this could be his way to stay in the sport. A midfield spot which he would thrive like the years of when it begun of Sauber, Force India & that night in Bahrain in Racing Point. Perez is currently completing his 14th season so an American backed team that need an experienced driver maybe someone from the Americas too which I’m sure would be an added bonus. Perez for the last couple of months hasn’t been at his best but some times a driver in his twilight years of his career needs a new challenge.
Chance: 7/10
Franco Colapinto
The shock of the year when Logan Sargeant was given the marching orders and the Argentine was calm collected and straight at against Albon. The rookie in 2024 unlike the American was able to outqualify him and score points. The situation is that there is no room for him in the upcoming 2025 season though. After the bounce a few errors did come into place costing Williams dear which could cost them in the constructors. The team could consider Franco with his few races of experience that excited the paddock, whom is no longer a rookie after a great start to his career.
Chance: 6/10
Valtteri Bottas
An experienced driver in the Finn, currently with “What’s next?” phrase being going around with him since Mid-November. He has lost his seat to the Audi takeover of Sauber, could this be the next? The Finn is completing his 13th Season in the sport and has experience in both cars up the top with the conquering Mercedes and in the midfield when Williams were developing themselves. It could be a perfect driver for the team that offers great feedback. He may be out for 2025 and no current alternate drive has been announced. If this does come to fruitition he could work with the team first-hand offering all his knowledge and insight to the crew preparing for the challenge.
Chance: 5/10
Jack Aitken
Jack competes with Cadillac in the IMSA Endurance series along with Le Mans, and has done for last 2 years, he is due to compete for 2025. He has been member of 2 junior programs in Renault (2016-20) & Williams (2020-22). In 2020 he did Free Practice 1 in Austria and in the global pandemic of the coronavirus he drove for Williams for the Sakhir Grand Prix. He had the reserve role for the remaining years before moving to Sportscar Racing. He may have relationship with Cadillac but his chance in F1 could have gone.
Chance: 2/10
A few drivers there in the mix, and there could be further that could be added. This team have been given the opportunity to extend the grid to 22 cars for the first time since 2016 when Manor Racing were on the grid. The good thing is that two teams are joining in Audi & Cadillac/GM and a fresh canvas of rules so hopefully not a team sitting at the back.