Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon has reaffirmed his confidence in Valtteri Bottas, insisting that the team’s opening months in Formula 1 have made him even more convinced that pairing the Finn with Sergio Perez was the correct decision. His support arrives amid paddock speculation surrounding Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac future beyond the 2026 season.
Although Sergio Perez has so far performed considerably better, Graeme Lowdon believes both experienced drivers have played a fundamental role in accelerating the development of Formula 1’s newest team. Cadillac may remain without a point, but the scale of the operation it has built and the progress achieved under intense time pressure offer important context for its results.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez bring experience to Cadillac
Cadillac placed its faith in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for the beginning of its first Formula 1 campaign, expecting the two veterans to guide a young and inexperienced organisation. Not everyone in the paddock supported the decision, but the American team’s strategy has proved less risky than some initially believed.
Cadillac remains on zero points after a difficult opening half of the season, which has included nine retirements before the summer break. However, it should not be forgotten that the team was assembled in an extraordinarily short period. Just 12 months before Cadillac appeared on the grid, Graeme Lowdon was still searching for 525 people to join the operation.
Considering that race against time, Cadillac’s results have been far from disappointing. The team has continued introducing upgrades, came within just 0.060 seconds of reaching Q2 in Monaco and has regularly finished ahead of Aston Martin despite operating with far fewer resources. Its development was also visible when Valtteri Bottas outqualified Sergio Perez at Silverstone.
Graeme Lowdon remains convinced by Cadillac’s driver choice
Sergio Perez has undoubtedly delivered the stronger performances so far, but Graeme Lowdon remains certain that selecting two highly experienced drivers was the right approach. Asked whether he would make the same decision today, the British team principal offered an unequivocal response.
“My opinion has not changed, and the last few months we have spent together have strengthened it,” Graeme Lowdon told AUTOhebdo. “In addition to the typical challenges facing a new team, we also had to deal with those created by the new regulations. There are so many new things to manage simultaneously, and the contribution of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez has been fundamental. They help us at every level.”
“They have been part of world championship-winning teams, and if Cadillac has managed to grow so quickly over the last few weeks, it is largely thanks to them.”
Cadillac’s possible options for the 2027 F1 season
Graeme Lowdon’s comments offer a different perspective on Valtteri Bottas, whose position for 2027 has repeatedly been described as uncertain in paddock speculation. Much could depend on how effectively the Finnish driver contributes to Cadillac’s technical direction and on Colton Herta’s progress in Formula 2.
The American is not currently excelling in the championship, where he sits 17th, and does not appear on course to collect the remaining Super Licence points required to make his Formula 1 debut. His path to a full-time seat therefore remains difficult despite completing his first Formula 1 practice appearance with Cadillac.
If Valtteri Bottas were no longer able to convince Graeme Lowdon and Colton Herta remained unprepared, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Câmara would be among the leading alternatives. McLaren wants to place Leonardo Fornaroli with a lower-ranked Formula 1 team, possibly Haas.
Cadillac reserve driver Zhou Guanyu should not be overlooked either. The Chinese driver already has Formula 1 experience and previously raced alongside Valtteri Bottas at Sauber, giving the American team another proven option should it decide to reconsider its line-up.
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