Quite a few the Formulation 1 drivers have backed Common Motors’ arrival within the sport with the Cadillac model, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat alternatives with the staff.
F1 introduced it’s working in the direction of GM becoming a member of the grid in 2026, whereby the staff will run below the Cadillac identify and use a buyer energy unit deal till its personal works engine is prepared in 2028. Its addition will develop the sphere to 11 groups and 22 vehicles, and Lewis Hamilton mentioned it’s going to additionally present further positions for engineers and mechanics in addition to drivers.
“I feel it’s nice,” Hamilton mentioned. “I’ve all the time been tremendous supportive of getting one other staff; extra vehicles on the grid. To consider what number of extra job alternatives that’s… I’m so comfortable to listen to that it’s taking place.”
Hamilton is among the drivers who has raced in a grid of greater than 20 vehicles prior to now – the final 12 months being 2016 when the Manor staff was final competing – and Fernando Alonso equally backed a undertaking that features a few of his former colleagues reminiscent of technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.
“Eleventh staff, 22 drivers, it’s not the primary time that we are going to be 22 on the grid,” Alonso mentioned. “It’s a posh resolution for the game generally but when they got here to that conclusion it’s as a result of it’s the perfect for everyone. I’ll all the time assist no matter administration assume that’s the finest.
“For the staff personnel, they’ve a few those that had been within the Renault days and for positive they’ll have an enormous contribution proper now on the very early a part of the undertaking, with plenty of expertise in Formulation 1 and within the sport. So I want the perfect of luck. A brand new staff isn’t a straightforward activity, however I feel they are going to be nicely ready they usually have the correct folks.”
For lots of the youthful drivers it is going to be the primary time they race on a grid of greater than 20 F1 vehicles, and Charles Leclerc mentioned that gives extra probabilities for up-and-coming driving expertise, too.
“It’s the primary time in my profession that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s thrilling,” Leclerc mentioned. “I additionally assume that there are many younger drivers ready for a spot in Formulation 1, and that may clearly give extra alternatives to very gifted younger drivers which might be dreaming to get into Formulation 1. So for that, this can be a good factor, and funky to have two extra vehicles on the grid.”
Pierre Gasly echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, and emphasised advantages from a racing spectacle standpoint.
“It’s thrilling,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 vehicles in F1. So extra rivals, in all probability extra motion, extra racing. So, thrilling occasions. I feel it’s been an extended subject for fairly a very long time. So I’m positive in the event that they got here to that conclusion, undoubtedly means it’s the perfect for the game. So I’m enthusiastic about it.”
However it’s not simply younger drivers who’re excited by the prospect. Bottas is out of a seat on the finish of this 12 months and mentioned he has spoken to GM already about his availability for 2026.
“I feel that’s simply elevated the probabilities of getting a seat for 2026, which finally is the purpose,” Bottas mentioned. “But when not, then there’s plenty of different cool issues in different collection.
“Sure (I’ve had talks), I feel for positive I’m not the one one, however in fact, it’s attention-grabbing for me, and I feel it’s nice for F1. Nice model, GM is an enormous backer behind it so, for positive, it’s an attention-grabbing undertaking.”
Magnussen is one other who is about to drop off the grid subsequent 12 months, and he has historical past with the producer after racing a Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in IMSA in 2021.
“Completely, I feel it’s thrilling to see,” Magnussen mentioned. “It’s a correct competitor coming in, an awesome identify and an OEM who’s going to return in with weapons blazing and throw all the things at it I’m positive. So it’s thrilling for the game, thrilling for the motive force market, for the grid.
“You by no means know in fact. I’ve pushed for the manufacturing unit earlier than in IMSA, it was the manufacturing unit Cadillac that I drove there, so I do know the administration, I do know the folks there. They know me. So that you don’t know.”
Together with these extra skilled names, Zhou Guanyu – who scored his first factors of the season in Qatar on Sunday – has hyperlinks to the GM entry’s advisory staff, and says he’s additionally wanting on the new constructor as a possible alternative to get again on the grid in simply over a 12 months’s time.
“I’m absolutely conscious that GM and likewise Cadillac joined the grid,” Zhou mentioned. “I feel it’s excellent for the game generally as a result of lots of people are all the time speaking about having not sufficient seats for the folks, the younger drivers obtainable. Clearly, I feel we now have plenty of younger drivers for subsequent 12 months.
“From my place, it’s an awesome alternative and an awesome probability for subsequent season after I’m not having a seat. So I can in all probability take into consideration what the long run will probably be and attempt to have a chance there. So I’m conscious of that.
“However all the things was simply solely introduced this week. We nonetheless have to undergo additional particulars a bit extra on that. However for me, my precedence is attempting to have one other probability of coming again on the grid. So for me, I don’t actually have the place I am going, but when there’s an opportunity to seize, I’ll completely take it.”
