Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez

Why Cadillac snubbed IndyCar star for Perez and Bottas

15:44, 27 Aug

bySamson Ero

Prior to announcing both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as its lineup for the 2026 season, the Cadillac F1 team had been linked with several drivers across different cadres of motorsport, including IndyCar star Colton Herta. The F1 team’s CEO has now cleared the air on why they opted against the IndyCar race winner.

The announcement of both Perez and Bottas has continued to stir buzz across the F1 community, with several individuals and key stakeholders involved in the sport sharing their thoughts on the choice of the veteran duo. However, clearing the air on the decision to settle for the pair, and specifically why Herta, who had been linked with the team, Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss stated:

“I think in the case of Colton, the Super Licence points aren't there.”

Explaining further why the team opted for experience over the multiple IndyCar race winner, Towriss continued:

“But I think really what it comes back to is experience in Formula 1 that carried the day. Despite the amount of experience that we have on the team, everybody's new, everybody's working together for the first time. And so we think that the experience that these two drivers bring is really what's most important.”

Dan Towriss on the pathway for an American driver

Towriss also weighed in on the team’s long-term goal of integrating an American driver into its project. The Cadillac team chief detailed how the team will be working on creating a pathway to see a driver fly the United States flag in the racing series.

“We certainly do think about, and it's important to us to make sure there's a pathway for an American driver into Formula 1, and we'll be working on that. But I think for this inaugural season, for what the team needs, and really what these drivers bring, this was the right combination for our team.”