Ralf Schumacher

Schumacher issues stark Cadillac warning, highlighting major weakness for new F1 team

13:41, 16 Aug

byNorberto Mujica

Mick Schumacher is still waiting on Cadillac to make a move for 2026, but his uncle Ralf has warned the American newcomer faces far bigger challenges than simply choosing its drivers.

The US outfit, set to join Formula 1 in two years, has yet to confirm a line-up despite openly listing Mick as a candidate for a seat.

For Ralf, though, the silence is no surprise. “The drivers are the least of the problems,” the six-time Grand Prix winner told Bild.

With just 400 staff, Cadillac is still building its organisation from the ground up, a task Schumacher called "extremely ambitious."

The German questioned whether the project can “rise like a phoenix” or see themselves unable to lift off the ground.

Rlaf Schumacher claims driver line up is the least of Cadillac's problems

The summer break has brought little of the usual transfer drama, with attention instead fixed on Cadillac's F1 entry, with the focus on the American team's line up being dismissed by the German as 'the least of their problems'.

For Mick Schumacher, it represents the most realistic path back to the grid after his Haas stint in 2021 and 2022. Talks have taken place, but concrete news are yet to be disclosed.

According to Ralf Schumacher, that’s because Cadillac’s real test lies elsewhere. Building up a complete F1 operation from scratch is “sporty” in his words, and a far greater challenge than signing drivers.

The warning reveals the scale of Cadillac’s task ahead of its ambitious debut season in 2026.

However, GPblog understands that the American outfit has reached a verbal agreement with current Mercedes third driver Valtteri Bottas to take up one of their vacant seats.

The names of current F2 drivers Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), Alex Dunne, (McLaren) and former F2 champion (Felipe Drugovich) are the main candidates to take up the second cockpit available at the General Motors-backed F1 team.