The debut is fast approaching. The 2026 season, which is now just around the corner, will see the arrival of an 11th team on the starting grid. Cadillac will join the rest of the field and will look to make a strong impression from the very start of the championship, knowing that the eyes of the entire Paddock will be fixed upon them. The American team has decided to bet on cockpit experience, signing two F1 “super-veterans” as their primary drivers: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Between them, they boast a combined total of 527 Grand Prix starts.
One of the final pieces of the puzzle was the identity of the race engineers who will guide the two drivers. While official confirmation from Cadillac has not yet been released, the British outlet PlanetF1.com has leaked the names of the two individuals designated to communicate with the drivers from the Cadillac pit wall. These roles will reportedly be filled by Carlo Pasetti, a former Performance Engineer at Aston Martin, and John Howard, who previously served as Pierre Gasly’s race engineer and brings over 15 years of experience from the “Enstone team” (Alpine).
The voices in the ears of Perez and Bottas
According to verifications by GP-news.net, John Howard has been employed by the American squad since August and is set to work alongside Valtteri Bottas. On the other side of the garage, Carlo Pasetti will handle communications and technical feedback for Sergio Perez.
With these appointments, another crucial tile has been placed for a team that is now fully gearing up for its highly anticipated first-ever F1 race. The appointment is set for less than three months from now, on March 8, 2026, at the season opener in Australia. The pairing of veteran drivers with experienced engineering voices suggests that Cadillac is prioritizing stability and immediate feedback as they navigate the steep learning curve of their debut campaign.
Cadillac is therefore bolstering its 2026 debut by pairing veteran drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas with seasoned race engineers John Howard and Carlo Pasetti. By recruiting talent with deep roots in teams like Alpine and Aston Martin, the American newcomer is ensuring that their vastly experienced driver lineup has the technical support necessary to hit the ground running. As the countdown to the Australian Grand Prix begins, these “voices from the pit wall” will be instrumental in helping the 11th team transition from a project into a competitive Formula 1 reality.
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