The engines of the Formula 1 rumor mill are revving louder than ever as Cadillac prepares to join the grid in 2026 as the sport’s 11th team. Backed by General Motors and guided by the expertise of icons like Mario Andretti, the team’s ambitions are crystal clear. But while Cadillac’s infrastructure is building towards its F1 debut, all eyes are on the seats of the cars. Enter Colton Herta, the IndyCar superstar and likely spearhead of Cadillac’s F1 lineup.
Herta, who’s been a consistent force in IndyCar with Andretti Global, appears to be the front-runner for Cadillac’s driver roster. His connection to Andretti, now a non-executive director of the Cadillac venture, only bolsters his case. With CEO Dan Towriss also singing his praises, many see Herta’s transition to F1 as inevitable. Dutch racing driver and pundit Renger van der Zande agrees, pointing to Herta’s staggering $7 million annual salary in IndyCar as a sign that bigger things are already in motion.
“One of the signs it will be Herta is that he is the highest-paid IndyCar driver,” van der Zande revealed during a Ziggo Sport discussion. “That’s because they have actually already offered him a Formula 1 contract.”
As reports of Herta’s pending F1 debut heat up, speculation has turned to his potential teammate. Cadillac’s first grid lineup could either be a game changer or a reflection of the team’s ambitions. Pundits like Jack Plooij have thrown out some audacious suggestions, none bigger than Mercedes’ George Russell.
“Who do you put next to it?” Plooij asked. “George Russell in 2026? He has to get out because Max [Verstappen] has to get in. I’ll throw everything at Russell.”
While Russell may be an ambitious target, the suggestion raises even more tantalizing questions about the shifting sands of F1. Plooij’s comments are grounded in the idea that Verstappen could leave Red Bull for Mercedes, opening the door for Russell to consider outside options. However, Verstappen’s camp was quick to dismiss such rumors, with his father, Jos, describing them as “nonsense” on social media platform X.
Nevertheless, Van der Zande added fuel to the fire, pointing out a recent coincidence involving Verstappen’s private jet and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s plane both landing in Eindhoven within 30 minutes of each other. “Those conversations are obviously just there,” he speculated, hinting at backroom negotiations. “I don’t know if Max is having those talks himself, maybe it has been around for a long time.”
For now, though, Verstappen has repeatedly stated that he’s happy at Red Bull, and as long as he keeps winning, there seems little reason for him to leave. But in a sport driven by performance and opportunity, stranger things have happened.
As Cadillac builds momentum for its highly anticipated F1 debut, the team has already secured key hires like Graeme Lowdon and Peter Crolla. With their technical foundation firming up, the biggest unanswered question remains the drivers. Herta looks like a lock, but will his teammate be a proven veteran like Russell or an entirely unexpected young star?
Whatever the case, Cadillac’s arrival promises to shake up the Formula 1 landscape. For American fans, Herta’s potential debut as a local hero could reignite interest in the sport, while the whispers of Verstappen, Russell, and others switching seats only heighten the intrigue. The countdown to 2026 has begun, and the grid’s dynamics may never be the same.
