Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has confirmed that Valtteri Bottas’s recent race pace is under internal review, leaving the door ajar for Colton Herta to step up to a full-time Formula 1 drive in 2027.
Valtteri Bottas’s future at Cadillac continues to raise questions, despite previous assurances from the American outfit’s management regarding the contractual status of its two drivers. Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has finally acknowledged that several of the Finn’s race performances are currently the subject of internal discussions, while leaving open the possibility of promoting Colton Herta to a full-time race seat as early as 2027.
Competing in Formula 2 this season, the American driver is continuing his Free Practice appearances in a bid to secure the points required for his FIA Super Licence—a scenario that could reshape Cadillac’s plans for its second campaign in Formula 1.
Bottas under scrutiny despite existing contract
As Cadillac prepares for its second season in the top flight, the composition of its 2027 driver line-up remains at the centre of discussions. Over the United States Grand Prix weekend, Team Principal Marcin Budkowski declined to publicly confirm the contractual status of either Bottas or team-mate Sergio Pérez.
Clarity ultimately came from his superior, Towriss. While the Cadillac CEO insisted that both drivers are indeed under contract, he stopped short of guaranteeing that the squad’s current line-up would remain unchanged next year.
Bottas’s situation appears to be under particular scrutiny from senior management. The Finn has endured several difficult Grands Prix this season, most notably in Singapore, where Pérez came perilously close to lapping him. Although his showing at the United States Grand Prix proved far more encouraging, it did not entirely dispel concerns surrounding his Sunday pace.
Towriss confirmed that Bottas’s form is actively being evaluated within the team.
“I think we’ll be able to say more about what we’re doing with our drivers over the next few weeks,” Towriss said. “Obviously, we have Checo and Valtteri under contract, and we really appreciate what they do. Equally, obviously, Valtteri has had a few races where he lacked race pace, so we are discussing it, and we will see what happens.”
Those remarks maintain a degree of uncertainty over the Finn’s future, even if his contract remains the official framework of his relationship with Cadillac. Management appears keen to take the necessary time to assess its options before making any further announcements regarding its 2027 programme.
“There is always a possibility” for Colton Herta
Among the contenders linked with a move to Cadillac is Esteban Ocon, alongside Colton Herta, whose pathway to Formula 1 remains closely tied to securing a Super Licence.
Asked directly whether the Californian could step up to a full-time race seat next season, Towriss refused to rule it out: “Yes, there is always a possibility.”
The response confirms that Herta remains a genuine option for Cadillac, though several hurdles must still be cleared before a potential promotion can materialise.
The American notably took part in Free Practice 1 at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, an outing that edged him closer to the points tally required to obtain the Super Licence mandatory for competing in the Formula 1 World Championship.
However, Herta will require further F1 track time during upcoming Grand Prix weekends to keep his 2027 race seat hopes alive. With the final two rounds of the Formula 2 season no longer sufficient on their own to yield the remaining points he needs, further FP1 appearances over the coming weeks will be critical for the Californian.
Cadillac pushing to take a step forward with 2027 challenger
Beyond the question marks over its driver pairing, Cadillac is pressing ahead with development for its sophomore Formula 1 campaign.
Having made its championship debut this year, the American squad continues to bolster its organisation and refine its future single-seater. Towriss expressed particular satisfaction with the internal progress achieved since the project’s inception.
“We are just continuing to build, every day, every week, every month,” he explained. “Even as a team, we started as a group of individuals, and then the on-track activities brought us closer together, and the progress made within the team has been considerable.
“Obviously, a lot of work is going into the development of the 2027 car, and we are just going to keep pushing. We are a brand-new team in Formula 1.”
