Cadillac has backed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas for its 2027 Formula 1 driver line-up, but the American team has stopped short of completely closing the door on a change. That leaves Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Câmara with reason to keep watching as both young drivers search for a route onto the F1 grid next season.
For Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Câmara, Cadillac is undoubtedly one of the teams capable of offering an opportunity. Leonardo Fornaroli can count on McLaren’s support, with Zak Brown and Andrea Stella highly impressed by his feedback, while Rafael Câmara is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and could therefore receive greater consideration among teams using Ferrari power units. Cadillac’s interest in the Brazilian has already made Rafael Câmara’s possible 2027 F1 move one of the developing stories in the driver market.
Cadillac 2027 driver line-up attracts Fornaroli and Câmara
Two drivers competing for one available seat? Not necessarily. Much will also depend on what Haas decides to do following pressure from sponsor Toyota, which wants Ryo Hirakawa racing in the championship next season. For now, however, the route towards Cadillac appears easier for both Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Câmara, partly because Colton Herta has yet to convince the American team’s management.
Leonardo Fornaroli is already positioning himself for his next career step, with the Italian actively targeting a Formula 1 seat for 2027 after receiving opportunities with McLaren and Haas.
But who could make way for one of the younger candidates at Cadillac? The indications currently point towards Valtteri Bottas, whose performances have been weaker than those of Sergio Perez. The Finn’s results could eventually prompt Cadillac to rethink its decision to rely on two highly experienced drivers. That strategy may have helped the team during its first steps in Formula 1, but it is not necessarily a long-term solution.
Dan Towriss backs Perez and Bottas but keeps 2027 options open
During the press conference introducing new Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski, chief executive Dan Towriss attempted to cool speculation surrounding Valtteri Bottas’s future, although his comments did not completely shut it down.
“We have two experienced drivers that we’re very happy with, that are pushing the team, and we’ll continue to support them. I know there have been some rumours out there with some of the young drivers, but they’re not substantiated, so that’s not something we’re focused on.”
Dan Towriss then added an important qualification: “I’ll throw the caveat, though: it’s Formula 1. There are no changes planned at the moment for 2027, but things can always change.”
Cadillac has already demonstrated just how quickly circumstances can change. Graeme Lowdon, the former team principal who built the squad from the ground up in the space of a year, was dismissed only a day earlier as Marcin Budkowski took over the operation.
Sergio Perez receives stronger Cadillac backing
Dan Towriss also appeared to underline Valtteri Bottas’s more uncertain position by offering particularly strong backing to Sergio Perez in a separate response.
“Checo has been an asset to the team. I think it’s important to have him on board. We’re not going to be distracted by the rumours involving him, and I’m confident he’ll remain at Cadillac.”
The 2027 driver market could ultimately determine how secure that position really is. Cadillac, as Formula 1’s newest and least established team, logically wants an experienced and dependable driver who also brings strong commercial support. Sergio Perez fits that profile, but there is no guarantee that the Mexican himself will want to stay.
That becomes particularly significant if an opportunity emerges elsewhere. Sergio Perez has already been linked with a possible Williams move for 2027, and a vacancy at the Grove-based team could tempt him to leave Cadillac. For now, the American squad insists it is counting on both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, but its own words make clear that Formula 1’s 2027 driver market remains far from settled.
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