The driver search for Formula 1 newcomer Cadillac is in full swing. Up to seven pilots are currently on the list of candidates. Mick Schumacher is also one of them. How are his chances? What speaks for and what against him? And who are his biggest opponents? Sport.de provides the overview.
Formula 1 Silly Season started earlier than usual this year. The driver chaos at Red Bull and Alpine was responsible, but above all the two still vacant cockpits at newcomers Cadillac. Anyone who gets the contract is still not clear.
sport.de explains which candidates are in the race and who has good or bad chances.
Sergio Pérez: The top favorite
Checo has not yet signed at Cadillac, but the trail to the Mexican is the hottest. So far he is the only driver who was confirmed by those responsible as a candidate. There is already an agreement between the 35-year-old and the team.
But: The latest developments on the driver market allegedly let Pérez hesitate. The former Red Bull pilot currently explains two more options: Alpine and Mercedes (there is more about that here).
His experience and speed speaks for Pérez. Last year he was written on the ground, but in 2025 it turns out that he was not that bad in the direct duel with Verstappen. In addition: Checo brings a lot of sponsorship funds and access to the Middle and South American market. A factor that must not be underestimated.
Mick Schumacher: More than outsiders?
Mick is definitely still in the race. Because on the one hand he brings experience and a big name. And on the other hand it is only 26 years old. At a meeting with the Cadillac bosses in Miami, he is said to have made a good impression, especially with Mario Andretti, who has a weighty word when looking for the driver.
During past F1 test trips for alpine or in the WEC, Mick also showed that he is better than his two Haas years suggest. But the truth also includes: Schumacher did not always get the optimum out of the low Haas potential. Now he has been ahead for three years, but his commitment with Cadillac would be associated with an uncertainty.
A crucial question will be: Does the US team trust the 26-year-old to be able to build and develop a racing team?
Valtteri Bottas: The number safe
At the age of 35, the Finn is more of an older iron. His great advantage over a Mick Schumacher is, among other things, that he has been in the premier class continuously for over ten years and has learned in three different racing stables. He knows how to get a pole and win races. But he also knows how to fight around the one, perhaps decisive World Cup counter at the end of the field.
Bottas may no longer be the fastest, but it is relying on him. He doesn’t make a stunk when things don’t go. He stays relaxed when it is degraded to number two. This may not fit the image of an ambitious, up -and -coming team, but for Cadillac in the first few years it is only about gaining a foothold in the premier class and taking one step after the other.
Guanyu Zhou: the chanceless?
Again and again Zhou is also associated with the Cadillac cockpit. The 25 -year -old brings similar conditions to Mick Schumacher, but has less radiance – but significantly larger sponsors in the back. He is currently a replacement driver at Ferrari.
As in the case of Mick, the question also arises whether he a) has enough speed and b) is able to do valuable development work. He has remained guilty of this evidence in his three clean years. His chances are assessed accordingly. The fact that Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon is his manager is said to play no role in the driver’s search.
Jak Crawford, Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward: The team USA
It is an open secret that Cadillac would like to put an American in one of the cockpits. There are now three races in the states, the US fans have learned to love the premier class. Now there is still a local hero that you can keep your fingers crossed. A US driver in a US team would be the dream constellation.
With Jak Crawford, Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward, there are theoretically three candidates. None of them have Formula 1 experience. Crawford (20) collects 2 kilometers in the Formula, Herta (25) drives in the IndyCar series for the Andretti team and O’Ward (26), also active in the IndyCar series, has already been able to drive a handful of F1 training.
The attraction of your obligation results from the hype potential, but is inevitably associated with a sporting risk. In the end, however, the racing team could accept this.