Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon still fully supports the choice to bring in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as experienced forces for the new F1 team. Despite criticism from the paddock, Lowdon is convinced that the duo provides exactly the guidance Cadillac needs during the first phase of the project. Given the results – zero points in eleven Grands Prix – many question marks are being placed on the current lineup.
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Although Cadillac has scored zero World Championship points, it must be said that the American outfit had a very short preparation period leading up to its F1 debut. Twelve months before the first race, Lowdon was still looking for over five hundred employees to build the organization. Given those circumstances, Cadillac sees the initial performances as promising, especially since the team can occasionally compete with established names.
Although Pérez is currently clearly achieving better results, Lowdon remains convinced of the value of both the Mexican and his teammate, Valtteri Bottas. “My opinion has not changed, and the past months we have spent together have only strengthened it,” the Brit told AUTOHebdo. “Besides the usual challenges of a rookie team, we also had to deal with the challenges arising from the new regulations. There are so many new aspects to manage simultaneously, and the contribution of Valtteri (Bottas, ed.) and Sergio (Pérez, ed.) has been crucial. They help us on every level.”
Future Cadillac drivers?
According to Lowdon, the experience of the duo is of great value for Cadillac’s development. “They have been part of championship-winning teams, and the growth Cadillac has made in recent weeks is largely thanks to them.” With that, the team principal particularly defended Bottas, whose place in the team has been in question for several weeks.
The coming period must clarify what role Bottas will continue to play within the project and whether possible alternatives are ready. Colton Herta, an important candidate for a future seat, is currently struggling in Formula 2 to achieve the necessary results for his super license. Should Cadillac decide to take a different direction, names like Leonardo Fornaroli, Rafael Câmara, and reserve driver Guanyu Zhou are also waiting in the wings.
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