Colton Herta may give Cadillac a tricky determination over its future driver line-up in Method 1 if he impresses in Method 2 and earns a Tremendous License subsequent 12 months, admits group principal Graeme Lowdon.
Cadillac has signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as an skilled driver line-up for its first season in 2026, with Herta making the change from IndyCar to F2 as he seeks the required Tremendous License factors to race in F1. Ought to the Californian safe a license, he can be eligible for one of many Cadillac race seats, and Lowdon admits it’s an issue he’d wish to have in relation to the group’s 2027 line-up.
“Each group desires to have robust selections,” Lowdon mentioned. “I actually respect Colton’s method to what he is doing. For me, that is what an actual racing driver desires to do. He is aware of how troublesome Method 2 is. There’s a whole lot of expertise coming by way of Method 2, you solely have to have a look at the present grid to see that, and he is aware of that as effectively.
“So I actually respect that method. For me, that is the method of an actual racing driver. We would like him to achieve success and we would like him to study all these things.
“That is the perfect situation [to be knocking on the door] and it is not a risk for Checo and Valtteri, over and above some other risk in Method 1. You need to see expertise coming by way of Method 2 – considerably higher if that is all inside our household of drivers. Then it is a greater class of drawback to have by any stretch.
“However to be clear, there is not any automated association. It isn’t about get the license factors, mechanically drive for a group. That is not the case. We have mentioned earlier than we choose the drivers on advantage. And that is the way it’s at all times going to be.
“I am actually trying ahead to seeing Colton race. It is an enormous alternative to study the tires, the circuit. He clearly is aware of learn how to race. So I am excited to see how he will get on.”
Cadillac accomplished a testing of earlier automobile (TPC) outing at Imola final week, utilizing a 2023 Ferrari with Sergio Perez behind the wheel. Lowdon says it’s unlikely Herta would get the identical alternatives subsequent 12 months, however says FP1 outings are being deliberate for the 25-year-old.
“We’ve not explored it. When a brand new group is available in, it highlights sure areas of the rules which can be a bit of bit extra restrictive for us than anybody else,” he famous. “esting of a earlier automobile – effectively, we’ve not obtained a earlier automobile so we will not check it!
“Clearly there’s the FP1 alternatives, and as a group we’ve to dedicate quite a lot of these to a rookie driver. So clearly Colton is a major candidate for that, that is for certain. However yeah, we simply should navigate by way of it.
“The best way the TPC check was executed this 12 months, we could not have executed it except Ferrari successfully donated two of their TPC days to us. Which is nice that Ferrari did that. They’re an amazing companion to have. Having labored with them up to now, I do know a whole lot of the individuals there very effectively. They’re nice individuals to work with.
“It is nice teamwork whenever you see one thing like that however we will not depend on that, essentially. I am unsure of precisely what element the testing program will happen, however definitely FP1s.”
