The arrival of the Andretti Cadillac team for the 2026 Formula 1 season is poised to be one of the sport's biggest stories, yet the identity of their two drivers remains a closely guarded secret.
With team principal Graeme Lowdon tasked with building a team from the ground up, the choice of a driver lineup is paramount.
F1 insiders and pundits believe the team will likely opt for a mix of experience and American talent.
While a number of names have been linked with the team over the past year, here are the three drivers most likely to get the nod for the much-coveted seats.
Sergio Pérez
The most experienced and accomplished driver on the market, Sergio Pérez is the clear front-runner to lead the new team.
After leaving Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 season, Pérez has spent a year away from the grid, but his stock remains high.
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With a decade of F1 experience, multiple Grand Prix wins, and countless podium finishes, the 35-year-old Mexican offers exactly what a new team needs: a proven race winner to help with development.
F1.com reporter Lawrence Barretto has tipped Pérez as a "leading candidate," noting that he is "super hungry to come back to Formula 1, for the right project."
His vast experience with different engine manufacturers and car concepts would be invaluable for a team navigating the new 2026 regulations.
Colton Herta
This is the name that has been synonymous with the Andretti project from the very beginning. Colton Herta is a 24-year-old IndyCar star and the most likely American to get a seat.
Andretti board member Mario Andretti has openly stated that the team's objective is to pair an experienced driver with a "young American talent."
Herta, a nine-time IndyCar race-winner and a top contender in the championship, has the raw speed and pedigree.
The only significant hurdle remaining is his FIA Super Licence points, as he needs to finish in the top five of the 2025 IndyCar standings to qualify.
Herta has, however, done limited F1 testing for McLaren in the past and has long been a priority for the American team.
Valtteri Bottas
Another highly experienced name on the shortlist is Valtteri Bottas.
The 35-year-old Finn, a ten-time Grand Prix winner, is currently serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes.
This role, while not a race seat, has kept him deeply embedded in the F1 paddock and privy to all the engineering meetings and development plans for the 2026 Mercedes car.
F1 reporter Lawrence Barretto has highlighted this as a significant advantage for Cadillac, noting Bottas's "immense experience of the Mercedes power unit."
Bottas's knowledge, combined with his solid, dependable driving style, would make him a perfect development driver to guide the new team in its formative years.
The choice of drivers is a defining moment for Andretti Cadillac.
While the team has many options to choose from, a combination of one experienced veteran and one young American talent, particularly a pairing like Pérez and Herta, seems to be the most likely path to success.
The announcement is expected in the coming weeks, but for now, the F1 world continues to wait with bated breath.