General Motors‘ entry alongside Cadillac has gained momentum following Formula 1’s wishes to accept the team’s entry. The American outfit, rumored to equip Andretti’s existing facility in Silverstone has started to work on building the team. Amidst the ongoing rumors, Mario Andretti hinted at GM’s first potential driver choice for the team’s entry in 2026.
Mario Andretti had recently snubbed Lewis Hamilton to pick the dream lineup for the General Motors Cadillac team. Colton Herta, a nine-time IndyCar race winner seems to be the team’s first pick for the 2026 season. Andretti confirmed the rumors and claimed that Herta was the first in the running for the time being. The American driver would fit right into the team’s objectives for joining the grid alongside the new regulations.
Right now, I think yes, you mentioning candidates — he’s [Colton Herta] definitely one that’s considered.
Mario Andretti told NBC news
The 2025 season is yet to be played out as General Motors Cadillac would take a close look at the drivers’ market and individual performances. Multiple drivers are set to be free in the 2026 season for the team to acquire. Hence, Mario Andretti reckoned that the team needed to keep the options open due to the one-year gap before joining the grid. Moreover, the 84-year-old pointed out that there were more drivers available than spots in the team at the moment.
I think you have to keep those options open, since it’s going to be a whole next season where we’re not going to be players. There are more drivers available than teams at the moment. Ten teams seems a lot, but there’s a lot more drivers, a lot more talent out there.
Mario Andretti added
Mario Andretti revealed team’s ‘objectives’ regarding driver acquisition
General Motors Cadillac alongside Andretti’s facility would put forth a true-American constructor in Formula 1. The team is highly likely to acquire one American driver in the lineup alongside the second driver. Mario Andretti resonated with this thought and claimed that the team wanted one experienced driver. The nationality of the experienced driver didn’t matter as long as he fit the criteria.
From our standpoint, I think the play at the beginning would be to have one experienced driver — nationality doesn’t matter — and then a young American talent. These are the objectives at the moment.
Mario Andretti noted
The team is yet to decide on a lot of crucial details ahead of entry on the grid. GM Cadillac is yet to confirm the engine provider for the 2026 season as the team will need to use a customer engine. Apart from this, the team principal and other key personnel are yet to be decided. Regardless, the addition of an 11th team on the grid would be an extremely interesting ordeal.
