Quite a few the Method 1 drivers have backed Normal 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 direction of GM becoming a member of the grid in 2026, whereby the staff will run beneath the Cadillac title and use a buyer energy unit deal till its personal works engine is prepared in 2028. Its addition will broaden the sphere to 11 groups and 22 automobiles, 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 at all times been tremendous supportive of getting one other staff; extra automobiles 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 without doubt one of the drivers who has raced in a grid of greater than 20 automobiles up to now – the final yr being 2016 when the Manor staff was final competing – and Fernando Alonso equally backed a venture that features a few of his former colleagues similar to technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.
“Eleventh staff, 22 drivers, it’s not the primary time that we’ll be 22 on the grid,” Alonso mentioned. “It’s a posh resolution for the game normally but when they got here to that conclusion it’s as a result of it’s the perfect for everyone. I’ll at all times assist no matter administration suppose that’s the greatest.
“For the staff personnel, they’ve a few those who have been within the Renault days and for positive they’ll have an enormous contribution proper now on the very early a part of the venture, with numerous expertise in Method 1 and within the sport. So I want the perfect of luck. A brand new staff isn’t a straightforward process, however I feel they are going to be properly ready and so they have the proper individuals.”
For lots of the youthful drivers will probably be the primary time they race on a grid of greater than 20 F1 automobiles, 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 suppose that there are many younger drivers ready for a spot in Method 1, and that can clearly give extra alternatives to very proficient younger drivers which might be dreaming to get into Method 1. So for that, this can be a good factor, and funky to have two extra automobiles 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 automobiles in F1. So extra rivals, most likely extra motion, extra racing. So, thrilling instances. 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, positively means it’s the perfect for the game. So I’m enthusiastic about it.”
Nevertheless it’s not simply younger drivers who’re excited by the prospect. Bottas is out of a seat on the finish of this yr and mentioned he has spoken to GM already about his availability for 2026.
“I feel that’s simply elevated the possibilities of getting a seat for 2026, which finally is the purpose,” Bottas mentioned. “But when not, then there’s a lot 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 venture.”
Magnussen is one other who is about to drop off the grid subsequent yr, 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, a terrific title and an OEM who’s going to return in with weapons blazing and throw the whole lot 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 facility earlier than in IMSA, it was the manufacturing facility Cadillac that I drove there, so I do know the administration, I do know the individuals 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 yr’s time.
“I’m totally conscious that GM and in addition Cadillac joined the grid,” Zhou mentioned. “I feel it’s superb for the game normally as a result of lots of people are at all times speaking about having not sufficient seats for the individuals, the younger drivers accessible. Clearly, I feel we’ve got numerous younger drivers for subsequent yr.
“From my place, it’s a terrific alternative and a terrific likelihood for subsequent season once I’m not having a seat. So I can most likely take into consideration what the long run might be and attempt to have a chance there. So I’m conscious of that.
“However the whole lot was simply solely introduced this week. We nonetheless have to undergo additional particulars a bit extra on that. However for me, my precedence is making an attempt to have one other likelihood of coming again on the grid. So for me, I don’t actually have the place I’m going, but when there’s an opportunity to seize, I’ll completely take it.”
