News Summary
- Marcin Budkowski refused to confirm Cadillac’s driver line-up for 2027, despite Pérez and Bottas having been expected to continue with the American team.
- Colton Herta wants a full-time F1 seat as early as next season after completing another FP1 appearance in Austin, while Esteban Ocon’s management has reportedly approached Cadillac.
- Budkowski praised Pérez’s motivation and contribution but declined to reveal which drivers or representatives had contacted the team.
Cadillac has left the door open to changes in its Formula 1 driver line-up for 2027 after team principal Marcin Budkowski declined to guarantee that Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will continue together next season. The American constructor is attracting interest from drivers searching for opportunities, with Colton Herta pursuing promotion from its development programme and Esteban Ocon exploring a possible move following his departure from Haas.
Speaking during Friday’s (October 23) FIA team principals’ press conference at the United States Grand Prix, Budkowski was questioned about the future of Cadillac’s experienced pairing and whether Ocon could become an option for the team.
The Frenchman did not confirm that either race seat would become available. However, he also declined to state that Pérez and Bottas were guaranteed to remain, explaining that any contract announcement would come through the team’s official channels.
The comments followed another Formula 1 practice appearance by Herta, who drove Pérez’s Cadillac during FP1 at Circuit of The Americas as part of his development programme.
Budkowski refuses to confirm Cadillac’s 2027 driver contracts
Cadillac entered Formula 1 in 2026 with Pérez and Bottas, selecting two established Grand Prix winners to provide experience during its debut season.
The team has concentrated on learning, improving reliability and establishing its technical operation rather than immediately challenging for points.
Both drivers were originally presented as central figures in the American manufacturer’s long-term project. However, the exact structure of their agreements has not been publicly detailed in full.
That uncertainty resurfaced in Austin when Budkowski was asked whether changes to the line-up could be considered.
The team principal explained that he regularly receives approaches from drivers and their representatives, particularly when an experienced competitor becomes available.
“As a team principal, and I’m sure it’s the same with my colleagues, you’re getting calls and contacts from every driver or driver manager that is on the market,” Budkowski said.
“So there are a number of drivers and managers who have contacted me. I’m not going to say who it is or who it isn’t, but pretty much all of them that are on the market have been in touch, as you’d expect.”
Budkowski was then asked directly whether Pérez and Bottas were both contracted to race for Cadillac in 2027.
Rather than confirming their positions, he insisted that discussions about contracts should remain private until the organisation was ready to make an announcement.
“This is the last place I would comment on driver contracts,” he said.
“It’s something which will be done by official releases from the team when the time is right.”
His response did not establish that Cadillac intends to replace either driver. It did, however, leave the composition of the 2027 line-up without the public confirmation journalists had sought.
Herta wants Cadillac race seat as early as 2027
Herta remains one of the most important candidates in Cadillac’s long-term driver plans.
The American left IndyCar to compete in Formula 2 during 2026, seeking the super licence points and Formula 1 experience required to move into the world championship.
He has also participated in official practice sessions with Cadillac, including appearances at Barcelona, Budapest, Monza and Austin.
During Friday’s FP1, Herta replaced Pérez and completed another programme designed to increase his familiarity with the MAC-26 and the team’s engineering procedures.
The session took place at the circuit where he secured his first IndyCar victory in 2019.
Following the outing, Herta made clear that his ambition remains a full-time Formula 1 seat.
“I think it’s the same goal, I want to be in Formula 1,” Herta told RACER.
The 26-year-old explained that he wants to continue improving with the team and would prefer to make the transition as quickly as possible.
“I would like to get in for next year. How possible is that? I don’t know,” he acknowledged.
Herta also indicated that he hopes to have greater clarity about his future within the coming weeks, although no decision has been announced.
His latest practice appearance brought him closer to the super licence threshold, another important consideration before Cadillac can evaluate him for a race seat.
The American driver’s FP1 appearance at Austin formed part of a planned development programme rather than an announced replacement of Pérez or Bottas.
Ocon explores Cadillac opportunity after losing Haas seat
Ocon represents a different possibility for the American constructor.
The Frenchman will leave Haas at the end of 2026 after the team confirmed Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara as Oliver Bearman’s new teammate for 2027.
The decision has left the former Hungarian Grand Prix winner without a confirmed race seat for next season.
According to RacingNews365, Ocon and his management have approached Cadillac to explore whether an opportunity could become available.
The report indicates that Ocon’s relationship with Budkowski could prove relevant to those discussions. The two previously worked together at Alpine, where Budkowski held a senior management position during Ocon’s tenure.
However, the conversations remain exploratory. Cadillac has not confirmed negotiations with Ocon or expressed an intention to sign him.
When asked specifically about the possibility of the French driver joining the organisation, Budkowski refused to identify the drivers and managers who had approached him.
The team principal also joked that revealing the team’s future plans during a press conference would create problems with Cadillac’s communications department.
Ocon’s departure from Haas was confirmed earlier this month, when the American team announced Câmara’s promotion.
As Haas confirmed Câmara for the 2027 Formula 1 season, Ocon was left searching for another opportunity to extend his career in the championship.
A reserve position could also be considered, although neither Ocon nor Cadillac has announced an agreement.
Budkowski praises Pérez’s commitment to Cadillac
While Budkowski avoided confirming the 2027 contracts, he delivered a particularly strong endorsement of Pérez.
The Mexican returned to Formula 1 with Cadillac after spending 2025 away from the championship and has played an important role in helping the new team establish its racing operation.
Budkowski said Pérez continues to demonstrate considerable determination despite his extensive Grand Prix experience.
“For a driver like Checo [Perez], who has a huge amount of experience and a number of races, I can tell you he doesn’t behave or drive like a driver who’s anywhere close to retirement,” he said.
“He’s pushing very hard behind the wheel. He’s pushing us very hard also behind the scenes in the debrief rooms and outside, and regularly texting me and other members of the team to push us to improve.”
The Cadillac team principal also highlighted the differences between the personalities and working methods of Pérez and Bottas.
“We have two drivers. One is more hot, and one is probably more cold, if we could say from there. And they’ve both pushed the team in their own particular ways, but Checo is pushing us very hard.”
Budkowski described Pérez as highly motivated and emphasised the value of the Mexican’s experience during Cadillac’s first season.
“Just looking at the way his body language is on the grid when he gets his helmet on, and he gets in the car, he’s getting ready for a fight.”
The comments strengthened the impression that Pérez remains important to Cadillac’s plans, although the team principal stopped short of confirming his contract for 2027.
Bottas faces uncertainty as Cadillac evaluates its options
Bottas’ position has attracted particular attention as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion.
The Finn was recruited alongside Pérez to provide experience from previous spells with leading Formula 1 teams.
However, reports have suggested that Cadillac could reconsider its options depending on the performance of its current drivers and the availability of alternatives.
The decision is complicated by the team’s development priorities.
Retaining both drivers would preserve continuity as Cadillac prepares its second championship campaign, allowing engineers to build on the feedback and relationships established during 2026.
Introducing Herta would serve the manufacturer’s ambition to develop an American Formula 1 driver, while signing Ocon would provide another experienced Grand Prix winner.
There is no confirmation that Cadillac has decided to replace Bottas, and Budkowski has not publicly identified either Herta or Ocon as the team’s preferred candidate.
The situation may also be affected by the exact terms of the existing contracts, which have not been fully disclosed.
When will Cadillac confirm its 2027 F1 drivers?
Cadillac has not announced a date for confirming its 2027 line-up.
Herta has expressed hope that his future could become clearer during the coming weeks, but that does not establish a timetable for the team’s decision.
Budkowski has made clear that any confirmation will come through an official announcement rather than comments made during a race weekend.
The next round of the championship is the Mexican Grand Prix, which will also mark Pérez’s home race and an important milestone in his Formula 1 career.
Cadillac continues preparing for its second season while developing the infrastructure for its planned transition to a General Motors power unit in 2029.
The manufacturer recently confirmed that its American Formula 1 engine factory will open in December 2026.
For now, Pérez and Bottas remain Cadillac’s race drivers, Herta continues his development programme and Ocon is searching for a new opportunity.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
