Quite a lot of the Components 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 group.
F1 introduced it’s working in direction of GM becoming a member of the grid in 2026, whereby the group will run underneath the Cadillac identify and use a buyer energy unit deal till its personal works engine is prepared in 2028. Its addition will develop the sector to 11 groups and 22 vehicles, and Lewis Hamilton mentioned it’ll additionally present additional positions for engineers and mechanics in addition to drivers.
“I believe it’s nice,” Hamilton mentioned. “I’ve at all times been tremendous supportive of getting one other group; 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.”
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Hamilton is without doubt one of the drivers who has raced in a grid of greater than 20 vehicles up to now – the final 12 months being 2016 when the Manor group was final competing – and Fernando Alonso equally backed a venture that features a few of his former colleagues akin to technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.
“Eleventh group, 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 on the whole 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 finest.
“For the group personnel, they’ve a few those that had been within the Renault days and for positive they may have an enormous contribution proper now on the very early a part of the venture, with a variety of expertise in Components 1 and within the sport. So I want the perfect of luck. A brand new group isn’t a straightforward activity, however I believe they are going to be nicely ready and so they have the best individuals.”
For lots of the youthful drivers will probably be the primary time they race on a grid of greater than 20 F1 vehicles, and Charles Leclerc mentioned that gives extra possibilities 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 Components 1, and that may clearly give extra alternatives to very gifted younger drivers which might be dreaming to get into Components 1. So for that, it is 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, most likely extra motion, extra racing. So, thrilling instances. I believe it’s been a protracted matter 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.”
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 believe that’s simply elevated the probabilities of getting a seat for 2026, which in the end is the aim,” Bottas mentioned. “But when not, then there’s a lot of different cool issues in different collection.
“Sure (I’ve had talks), I believe for positive I’m not the one one, however after all, it’s fascinating for me, and I believe it’s nice for F1. Nice model, GM is a giant backer behind it so, for positive, it’s an fascinating venture.”
Magnussen is one other who is ready 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 believe it’s thrilling to see,” Magnussen mentioned. “It’s a correct competitor coming in, a fantastic identify and an OEM who’s going to come back 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 after all. 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 group, 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 believe it’s excellent for the game on the whole as a result of lots of people are at all times speaking about having not sufficient seats for the individuals, the younger drivers obtainable. Clearly, I believe now we have a variety of younger drivers for subsequent 12 months.
“From my place, it’s a fantastic alternative and a fantastic likelihood for subsequent season once I’m not having a seat. So I can most likely take into consideration what the longer term will probably 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 must 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 am going, but when there’s an opportunity to seize, I’ll completely take it.”
