Villeneuve reveals the perfect driver for Cadillac: 'Helping teams build'
F1 News
Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has some advice for the new Cadillac F1 team. The General Motors brand will be the 11th team on the Formula 1 grid, with many drivers hoping for an opportunity in the team. Director on the board Mario Andretti already revealed to GPblog that IndyCar driver Colton Herta is a leading candidate for one of the seats in 2026. The former Williams driver believes that Carlos Sainz would be the perfect driver for the American squad when they enter the sport in 2026.
According to the 11-time Grand Prix winner, Carlos Sainz would be the perfect choice for a seat at Cadillac. "For a team like this, Sainz is exactly the right type because he keeps helping teams build. That is why Williams took him and I am not sure they would be willing to let him go for 2026," Villeneuve told Spin Casino. "That's why Williams took him and I'm not sure if they are willing to let him go before 2026."
Cadillac is not a 'first choice destination'
The Canadian also notes that Cadillac will be inundated with calls from top team officials and drivers. Their entry is intriguing and provides fresh opportunities to those in and outside of Formula 1. "They will all be saying. ‘I am the perfect one to help you build your team.’ It won’t be easy for them because a driver with the necessary experience at a top team would not be happy just to be part of building a team. It would not be a first-choice destination for any of the top drivers,” Villeneuve believes.
There is danger in joining a new team. Despite the name and the backing, Formula 1 success isn't guaranteed. Therefore, it's much safer for top drivers to join a team with an already solid pedigree. This isn't always the case, however. Loot at Sainz's move from Ferrari to Williams. The Spaniard will be joining a project, going from a race-winning car to one that may struggle to get points on occasion.
One thing will help Cadillac: 'Money!'
To build up the team, there is a lot of convincing to bring sponsors, drivers and all different kinds of team members to Cadillac. According to Villeneuve, there is a solution to that, and General Motors has an abundance of it. "Money! It is a business. It will be expensive for them because it is a new team and nobody with a good reputation and who is renowned will just jump at it. It will take a bunch of money.”
This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen
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