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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Cadillac F1 Team Finalizes Driver Lineup for 2026 Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Formula One presenter Lawrence Barretto has revealed that the Cadillac F1 team has finalized its driver lineup for the 2026 season with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, and only the formalities remain pending before an announcement is made. Cadillac received its approval to join the F1 grid in March as the sport's eleventh team. The outfit has been gearing up to develop the organization from scratch and build a capable car. The American team has also been in talks with several drivers in recent months, and its preference has been to have an experienced F1 driver who could assist it in its initial years in the premier class of motorsport. Barretto, reporting from Spa-Francorchamps, mentioned Perez and Bottas as the names Cadillac wants to sign for its F1 debut, while speaking about the Alpine F1 team, with which Bottas was recently linked. He said: People attend an event to unveil the colors for the 2026 Cadillac debut in Formula One racing, ahead of the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix, in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2025. People attend an event to unveil the colors for the 2026 Cadillac debut in Formula One racing, ahead of the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix, in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2025. Giorgio VIERA / AFP/Getty Images "Bottas has obviously been linked with Alpine. But actually, I think the most likely landing spot for him is Cadillac, and we haven't talked about them yet. "But I hear that they haven't got any contracts done — not even any head of terms — but Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are the two drivers that they want at that team, and it's just a case of them going through the motions of it. "So it might be some time until we find that out, and obviously, there is still some time that that could change. But that's where we're looking, I think." Perez and Bottas had been racing in F1 for a long time and possess the required experience to elevate a team like Cadillac. Perez is currently out of the sport after Red Bull parted ways with him last year. Bottas is currently a reserve driver at Mercedes, where he is also mentoring rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. While Bottas has revealed his interest in Cadillac in the past, Perez has also spoken on being part of a new project that he strongly resonated with. Newsweek Sports reported the Mexican driver's comments from last month. He said: "The answer is yes, I do want to return, but only if the right project comes along, one where I feel I truly belong or should be. "I don't want to come back at any cost. I'm not interested in traveling around the world as a third driver or just waiting around for an opportunity. "I feel fortunate for the career I've had, and I do want to come back - because I don't want my career to end like this. "But I'm also fully aware that I'll only return if it's truly worth the price you have to pay to be in Formula 1 - 24 races, and an entire life dedicated to the sport." When asked if he would be a value addition for a team like Cadillac, Perez said: "Yes, I believe it 100 per cent. If you look at my years with Force India, and then later with Red Bull - pushing the team forward race by race, and eventually becoming a winning team - that's exactly the kind of environment I'm looking for. "A team with that mentality, that unity. For me, that's more important than any trophy or achievement: finding a project where the driver feels truly motivated."
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mekies brings vast experience as he takes over F1 team Red Bull after Horner's sacking
FILE - Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies attends a press conference ahead of the French Formula One Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet, southern France, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Nicolas Tucat/Pool via AP, File) FILE -RB team principal Laurent Mekies is interviewed on the grid before the Sprint race at the Miami Formula One Grand Prix, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) FILE -RB team principal Laurent Mekies is interviewed on the grid before the Sprint race at the Miami Formula One Grand Prix, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) FILE - Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies attends a press conference ahead of the French Formula One Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet, southern France, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Nicolas Tucat/Pool via AP, File) FILE -RB team principal Laurent Mekies is interviewed on the grid before the Sprint race at the Miami Formula One Grand Prix, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) MILTON KEYNES, England (AP) — Red Bull's Formula 1 team is changing team directors for the first time since it was founded 20 years ago, after Christian Horner's sacking sent shockwaves through the sport on Wednesday. But his replacement Laurent Mekies could be the calm presence the team needs amid what promises to be an intense period of scrutiny. Mekies, who had been head of sister team Racing Bulls, brings vast experience to the role after he was hired to replace Horner as chief executive of Red Bull's F1 team. Advertisement The timing of Horner's firing at least gives him a little bit of time to prepare, as he takes charge of his first race at the Belgian GP on July 27. Here are some things to know about Mekies: What are his credentials? The 48-year-old Frenchman has been in F1 since the early 2000s. He worked as a race engineer with the Minardi team — which featured future Red Bull driver Mark Webber — and was among the Minardi staff who stayed when Red Bull took over and created the Toro Rosso team in 2005. He brings vast experience, and F1 knowledge from both working inside teams and inside the institution of motor sport's governing body, FIA. Advertisement After leaving Toro Rosso in 2014, Mekies had a stint as the FIA's safety director during a crucial time as F1 made the 'halo' protective device mandatory on cars, following the death of French F1 driver Jules Bianchi and British IndyCar driver Justin Wilson in 2015. Ferrari role Mekies returned to a team role in 2018, joining Italian F1 giant Ferrari as its sporting director, working alongside then-team principal Mattia Binotto. He was promoted to race director, and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc once doused him with Champagne after winning the 2022 Austrian GP. But erratic decision-making and botched pit stops by the team during races undermined Ferrari's bid to challenge at the top. Advertisement Mekies left Ferrari halfway during the 2023 season, following Binotto's departure at the end of 2022. Racing Bulls Mekies became team principal of the Racing Bulls team at the start of 2024. When Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to the Red Bull team after just two rounds this season, Mekies said he was 'incredibly proud' of Tsunoda's progress. This season he also worked with rookie French driver Isack Hadjar, who has impressed in spells, and Liam Lawson after he was demoted from Red Bull to make way for Tsunoda. Mekies will be replaced by Alan Permane at Racing Bulls, formerly the racing director. Advertisement 'The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team,' Mekies said. "The spirit of the whole team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning. Alan is the perfect man to take over now and continue our path.' Challenges ahead Looking further ahead, Mekies has much work to do at Red Bull with new technical regulations on cars coming up in 2026. 'The challenge is huge, probably the biggest for the teams,' he said recently. 'I'm sure the teams will need the drivers to help them develop in the right direction (and) help them grasp these regulations.' ___ AP auto racing:
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Cadillac F1 Adopts NASA's Apollo Mission Strategy for 2026 Debut
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the Cadillac F1 team gears up for its 2026 Formula One debut, team principal Graeme Lowdon has revealed that the outfit has been relying on a management model based on NASA's Apollo project to manage its operations from multiple locations in the UK and the USA. With around six months to go before the second American F1 team enters the grid, Cadillac is on course to get two cars ready after making significant investments in manpower and infrastructure. While the team has already developed a 2026 car concept for crash testing and aerodynamic testing, Lowdon emphasized the need for an efficient management structure for easy and quick "peer-to-peer interaction" across multiple locations. People attend an event to unveil the colors for the 2026 Cadillac debut in Formula One racing, ahead of the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix, in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2025. People attend an event to unveil the colors for the 2026 Cadillac debut in Formula One racing, ahead of the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix, in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2025. GIORGIO VIERA/AFP/Getty Images As a result, the team adopted a flat management model, inspired by the one NASA used for its Apollo mission. Speaking to the media in Silverstone, Lowdon explained: "It's very similar. OK, we're not putting a man on the moon, but it feels like it sometimes. "If you look at the task in hand, we've got immovable deadlines. We've got a massive necessity for peer-to-peer interaction. "So we need engineers talking to engineers. We need an engineer here [in Silverstone] talking to an engineer in Charlotte [North Carolina] and another one in Warren, Michigan, or eventually in Fishers [Indiana, where Cadillac U.S. racing headquarters is being constructed]. And so we've looked to have a very, very flat management structure. "We've leaned heavily on the management structures that were used for the Apollo project. It's super interesting and I don't know if other teams have used that before. "You always look around to get inspiration from how other people have tackled things. And I just thought that there was some good learnings from that. "Is it the equivalent of putting a man on the moon? I don't know about that. But what strikes me is it's quite a difficult task." Lowdon added that compared to a pyramid structure that several teams run on, a flat management structure is best suited for a multi-site team like Cadillac. He said: "So race teams are often described in military terms where, even if you see a garage tour, someone will say, this is organised in a kind of pyramid, and you have one person at the top. And the typical military structure is command and control. So you issue commands, people do things. "When it's a multi-site team like this, that becomes a massive challenge. And what you can't have is an engineer here [in Silverstone] having to go up and down a particular hierarchy and then hop across, in our instance, not just to a different geographic location, but a different country altogether, and then go up and down. "So instead, it's a kind of a different structure where it's mission control instead of command and control. So you have this really flat structure. Engineers are able to talk directly to each other. And the thing that's heavily imparted on them is the mission itself. Everyone knows what the mission is. They know what needs to be done. "So far it works. You know, the proof of the pudding is going to be in whether the car's quick."
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Toto Wolff Declares Mercedes F1 Engines 'Good as Gold'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mercedes got its first win of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix, but the team's power units went through some reliability issues. The Mercedes engine is under the spotlight after a run of problems throughout the past couple of race weekends. In Canada, Williams driver Alex Albon retired from the race after seven laps. The power unit caused the retirement. Williams is not the only Mercedes customer to have gone through problems with the engine; Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso couldn't finish the Monaco GP after a loss of power. Mercedes' Austrian team principal and CEO Toto Wolff looks on during a practice session for the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 2, 2025. Mercedes' Austrian team principal and CEO Toto Wolff looks on during a practice session for the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 2, 2025. Photo byEven the Mercedes car suffered problems this season. Kimi Antonelli retired from the Emilia-Romagna and Spanish races due to engine-related issues. Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff addressed the recent run of issues and came to the defense of the power unit—trying to reassure fans and customer teams alike that the Mercedes engine can still be counted on. "I mean, our engines have been as good as gold since the introduction of the hybrid era, and so strong. And now it's the final year, all sights are on next year, and this group are fully on top of the reliability issues that we have," Wolff explained. "And statistically, if you look at the many years, the failures we had were very minimal. So we need to learn now what happened. I don't know what happened to Alex (Albon), actually. And I'm sure we'll understand it." If Wolff is right, the Mercedes engine shouldn't go through many more issues this season. The power unit can maintain its reputation as long as the second half of the season sees the expected high-level reliability from the engine. Wolff feels confident in the engine holding up over the course of the season. The Mercedes power unit is likely the best on the grid, balancing power and reliability over the past decade. These problems are likely aberrations, which should give the team confidence about its prospects going forward. The Canadian GP saw the Brackley-based team keep itself at the top of the timesheets all weekend long. George Russell secured a stunning pole position in Canada and delivered a steady drive in the race to secure the win. Antonelli managed to get his first career podium finish and showed that the Mercedes car was flat-out better than the rest of the field. If the engines hold up for the rest of the season, Mercedes could be set for a dramatic upturn in form.
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Three in a row Oscar Piastri wins in Miami to lead McLaren one-two
VICTORY McLaren's British driver Lando Norris crosses the finish line to finish second in the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 4, 2025. Picture: Shawn Thew/POOL/AFP With Norris pipping Piastri in Saturday's sprint race, McLaren picked up maximum points from the weekend and Piastri heads out of Miami with a 16 point lead over his team-mate. The victory was the third in a row for Piastri after his wins in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and his fourth in the six races so far this season. Australian Piastri finished 4.6 seconds ahead of British team-mate Lando Norris with George Russell of Mercedes finishing third but 37.6 seconds behind. Oscar Piastri made it a hat-trick of wins with victory in the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday as McLaren enjoyed a one-two on the podium to continue their dominant Formula One season. Max Verstappen Finishes Fourth as Oscar Piastri Dominates Miami Grand Prix Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who started on pole, finished in fourth place with Alex Albon of Williams fifth and 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes in sixth. "I was aware enough to avoid Max in turn one, and from then I knew I had a good pace advantage," Piastri said. "The car was incredible today. "The hard stint I was struggling a little bit, so there are some things to work on. Got to keep learning, but very happy to be leaving Miami on top. "Two years ago here we were the slowest team, I think we got lapped twice. Here, we just won the race by 35 seconds," he added. Piastri, who started at fourth on the grid, grabbed the lead on lap 14 when Verstappen took the inside line but was too late on the brakes and went wide. "Brakes man, honestly, useless," the Dutchman told his team radio and the Red Bull driver, a two-time winner at Miami, was not to get a sniff of the lead again. Norris went on the hunt for Verstappen but by the time he got ahead, after some jousting on lap 17, Piastri had opened up a nine-second lead. "It's never the best feeling (to be second) but the team has done an amazing job, so I can't fault them at all," said Norris. "We were up the road so it is a good feeling. Oscar drove well, Max put up a good fight as always so it is what it is. I paid the price for not doing a good enough job today, but still happy to be second," he said. Norris had overtaken Verstappen while heading off piste himself and he had to then give back the spot to the Dutchman before finally getting ahead and into second place. It was a spell which cost Norris crucial time which he was unable to recover but he had no regrets about his approach. "What can I say? If I don't go for it, people will complain. If I go for it, people complain. So you can't win. It is the way it is with Max, it's crash or don't pass," he said. Russell had finished behind his team-mate Antonelli in qualifying but after some frustration in the sprint race as well, he was glad to be on the podium. "Really happy to come away with P3 as I have been struggling this weekend personally. Well done to the McLaren, they were just too far down the road," he said.
