Cadillac Boss Marcin Budkowski Confirms Team Will Take Its Time on 2027 Driver Lineup

Cadillac team boss Marcin Budkowski confirmed the team will take its time deciding its 2027 lineup amid contact from a host of drivers without Formula 1 seats, including Mercedes reserve Fred Vesti.

The American operation has rapidly turned into one of the most intriguing focal points on the Grand Prix driver market.

While one side of the garage is firmly anchored for the long haul, the identity of the second driver remains an active debate.

Contenders from both Europe and North America are now circling the open cockpit.

Budkowski and senior management are under no immediate pressure to finalize the paperwork.

Instead, the team intends to evaluate its options carefully before committing to its future.

STABILITY ON ONE SIDE OF THE GARAGE

The certainty on one side of the Cadillac garage came into sharp focus ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez signed an extension that secures his place with the squad until at least 2029.

That multi-year commitment gave the new entrant an experienced veteran to lead its technical foundation.

It also signaled to the wider paddock that Cadillac values continuity as it prepares for the sport's evolving landscape.

However, Perez's long-term deal highlighted the unresolved situation surrounding the second car.

With one seat locked down through the late 2020s, the remaining seat has become a prime target.

Drivers without confirmed drives have reached out to Cadillac leadership to register their availability.

Budkowski has acknowledged that interest while keeping the door open to several possibilities.

BOTTAS BREAKS HIS SILENCE IN MEXICO

Valtteri Bottas found himself at the center of the mounting paddock speculation during the Mexico GP weekend.

The Finnish driver had been unable to speak with the media on Thursday due to illness.

When he re-emerged in the paddock, reporters immediately questioned him regarding his future with Cadillac.

Bottas addressed the swirling rumors with a measured and calm tone.

"I don't really have much to say," Bottas replied in Mexico.

"That's the situation; there are rumours."

"I have nothing really to say; we'll find out eventually."

Despite the intense chatter, Bottas remains convinced that his initial understanding with the team still holds.

"Well, it would make sense to me," he explained when asked about his prospects.

"That's what it reads on the paper, so that's why I'm pretty confident."

He acknowledged that his current contractual situation differs from that of his teammate.

"For me, it was always kind of clear who's here for next year," Bottas added.

"Obviously, Checo made an extension, and I hadn't made a further extension yet."

THE ROLE OF THE BOARDROOM

Bottas pointed out that key driver decisions for a major manufacturer are rarely resolved on the pit wall alone.

Cadillac represents the motorsport ambitions of General Motors, meaning corporate executives have the final say.

"I'm sure, in a big company, there's always the board meetings that they could approve the final decisions, and I believe those are soon," Bottas remarked.

He recognized that high-level sign-offs across the Atlantic will ultimately resolve the lingering question marks.

"So, I think everything just needs to be validated with the big bosses in the USA."

Until those board meetings conclude, the second seat remains subject to internal review.

That corporate governance structure gives Budkowski and executive leadership the space to weigh every factor.

NURSING THE MAC-26 THROUGH A TOUGH CAMPAIGN

Bottas's position has come under scrutiny as Cadillac works through the realities of being a brand-new entrant.

Cadillac entered the sport as an entirely new team for the 2026 season, facing an uphill technical climb.

On track, Bottas has matched Perez in qualifying trim over the course of the championship.

However, race days have told a different story across recent events.

Perez has generally enjoyed the stronger run of form on Sunday afternoons.

Bottas has also suffered from a higher rate of mechanical retirements and technical setbacks.

When asked if he feels he has a point to prove to critics, Bottas offered a candid assessment of his campaign.

"This year, not really," Bottas replied.

"All what I signed up for is development, working for the future, trying to sometimes nurse the car home just to make it to the line."

He emphasized the difficulty of gathering representative results with the first-year MAC-26 chassis.

"Just really waiting to that moment that we get a better car and then we actually do something with it instead of just, like, nursing it."

He noted that unseen garage gremlins have skewed the headline numbers.

"There's been so many issues behind the scenes, and I think I've had the worst of it."

"And also the DNF rate means that I've had much less opportunities to complete the races."

"So yeah, there's a lot behind the scenes that explains many things."

HERTA CHASES THE FINAL SUPER LICENCE POINT

While Bottas works through development struggles, Cadillac reserve driver Colton Herta is making a compelling case.

The American IndyCar star has long been considered an ideal fit for Cadillac's brand identity.

Cadillac has been actively working with Herta to help him secure an FIA Super Licence ahead of 2027.

Herta currently sits just a single point away from satisfying the mandatory eligibility threshold.

Under FIA regulations, a driver must accumulate 40 points over a rolling three-year period to race in Grand Prix events.

Free practice sessions offer an official pathway to collect those crucial remaining points.

A driver who completes at least 100 kilometers during an official FP1 session without receiving penalty points earns one Super Licence point.

Cadillac has structured its track-time program around getting Herta across that final regulatory hurdle.

Herta will step into Sergio Perez's car for Free Practice 1 at the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil.

This outing represents a sixth FP1 opportunity to finally clear the required benchmark.

Earlier attempts encountered unexpected hurdles, including regulatory confusion that delayed his validation.

In Brazil, Herta will focus entirely on completing clean mileage to secure the elusive final point.

Once that licence is safely in hand, Herta will stand as an instantly viable option for a race seat.

Many paddock observers already view the IndyCar race-winner as the frontrunner should Cadillac replace Bottas.

FRED VESTI THROWS HIS HAT IN THE RING