Vesti boosted Cadillac seat case with third-fastest Mexico City FP1 time
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 30, 2026
Vesti’s Cadillac case
Mercedes test and reserve driver Frederik Vesti tightened his case for a possible Cadillac Formula One seat with the kind of session that gets attention in the paddock. Vesti set the third-fastest time in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, a strong showing for a driver who is still pushing for his first full-time Formula 1 drive. The result mattered because Vesti is already on Cadillac’s radar and has done his work for the brand in another series. He has raced for Cadillac in IMSA, helped the Cadillac Whelen team win the title and won at Watkins Glen alongside Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber. His run with Whelen Cadillac Racing has also produced three victories and three IMSA podiums, a record that gives Cadillac a clear reference point as it weighs its driver plans. For Vesti, the path is straightforward. He wants a full-time Formula 1 seat and he is making the strongest possible case with pace and experience.
Herta’s superlicence push
Colton Herta changed the shape of Cadillac’s driver picture when he completed the final mileage needed for an FIA superlicence during FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix. That step makes him eligible to race in Formula One in 2027 and gives Cadillac another American option to evaluate. Herta remains the leading candidate if the team makes a driver change, and Cadillac is still viewed as likely to favor him for the seat. The reason is clear. Cadillac is considering Herta because he is an American driver, and Marcin Budkowski said an American driver is important to the team’s identity. That context explains why Herta’s progress drew so much attention. It does more than clear a paperwork hurdle. It strengthens a case that already carried weight inside the organization. It also adds pressure around the rest of Cadillac’s lineup decisions, because Herta now checks another major box for a potential future move into Formula 1. His superlicence progress does not lock anything in, but it gives Cadillac a cleaner path if the team decides to build around an American presence.
Bottas and Perez
Valtteri Bottas remains in the mix for Cadillac’s potential 2027 Formula 1 seat, and he is still the preferred option for now. That status sits beside growing pressure after Herta’s superlicence progress. Budkowski said Bottas needs to deliver strong performances “race in, race out” and wants to see more from him in the final weeks of the season. That puts the focus squarely on execution. Cadillac has a candidate with strong American appeal in Herta and a driver with established Formula 1 experience in Bottas, so the team’s decision carries both performance and identity questions. Sergio Perez added another important piece to the picture when he signed a new multi-year Cadillac deal in Mexico City, committing him to the team for at least the next three years. That deal gives Cadillac a clear long-term commitment on one side of its driver plans while the other seat remains under review. The result is a lineup discussion that now centers on pace, nationality and long-term fit, with Vesti still pushing his case from the outside and Herta and Bottas standing at the center of the conversation.
