Formulation 1 drivers welcomed the information an eleventh workforce is about to hitch the grid in 2026.
Cadillac and Formulation One Administration have reached an settlement in precept for the workforce to hitch the world championship. FOM has dropped its long-standing objection to increasing the grid, a view shared by most workforce bosses.
F1 final had a 22-car grid in 2016, earlier than drivers equivalent to Pierre Gasly made their debuts. “It’s thrilling,” mentioned the Alpine driver.
“It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 vehicles in F1. Extra rivals, in all probability extra motion, extra racing. So [it’s] thrilling instances.”
Charles Leclerc made his debut in an F1 apply session with Haas after they joined the grid because the eleventh workforce in 2016. He says the bigger grid will profit F1 by providing extra probabilities for upcoming drivers to discover a seat.
“It’s the primary time in my profession that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s thrilling,” he mentioned. “I additionally assume that there are many younger drivers ready for a spot in Formulation 1, with the intention to get there, and that can clearly give extra alternatives to very proficient younger drivers which might be dreaming to get into Formulation 1.”
Sauber workforce mates Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, who will lose their F1 seats on the finish of the yr, are already eyeing the 2 Cadillac seats as potential locations.
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“I’m undoubtedly welcoming a brand new workforce into Formulation 1,” mentioned Bottas. “It’s an incredible model, I feel it’s going to be nice for F1. And it additionally means there’s two extra seats for ’26, which is nice.”
Cadillac is taking up the entry which was launched by Andretti at the start of final yr. They’ve already employed a number of notable names for his or her technical division together with Pat Symonds, Rob White and Nick Chester, all of which beforehand labored for the workforce now often called Alpine.
“They’ve a few people who they had been within the Renault [now Alpine] days,” mentioned Fernando Alonso, “and for positive they are going to have an enormous contribution proper now on the very early a part of the challenge, with lots of expertise in Formulation 1 and within the sport.
“So I want the very best of luck. A brand new workforce is rarely a straightforward activity, however I feel they are going to be properly ready and so they have the correct individuals.”
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