Will there be an American driver on the grid in 2026? With Cadillac expected to arrive next season, it would not be surprising to see the General Motors group manufacturer rely on a national representative to begin this new adventure.
Between the beginnings of the candidacy and its validation at the end of November, all types of rumors could be read ranging from Daniel Ricciardo to Sergio Perez, inevitably passing by a driver from the country of Uncle Sam. The name that has been mentioned most often is that of Colton Herta, already in the running for an arrival on the grid in 2023 on the side of Alpha Tauri (now Racing Bulls).
Currently protected by Andretti – the initial name of the project to land in F1 and who will nevertheless be involved in it – in IndyCar, the Californian remains a serious candidate for one of the two available steering wheels. But facing him, he could have another candidate and from the same circle in the person of Kyle Kirkwood.
While his name hasn't necessarily been mentioned or linked to Cadillac yet, the Floridian is starting to enjoy solid experience in IndyCar and is seen as a champion in the making after winning all the junior categories of the Indy pyramid. Enough to imagine one day in F1, perhaps as early as 2026?
« I don't want to lose focus, has tempered Kyle Kirkwood when asked about a possible Cadillac job. Honestly, I don’t know anything about this topic. It’s not something I want to know right now because I don’t want to be the one with information that people want to know. It’s a good situation for the team. They’ve worked hard to get there. But I’m focused on IndyCar.. » But will he still be as focused on IndyCar if Cadillac comes to offer him a place in F1 from 2026 in the coming months?
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
06/03/2025 at 01:25 a.m.
American yes, champion in all junior categories in the States, winner in IndyCar but not yet champion (just like Colton Herta by the way)! Rumors sell paper and it's not over yet