Williams boss Vowles skeptical about Cadillac’s F1 chances
“They’re going to struggle. That’s my belief. It is hard now in modern-day Formula 1 to be competitive,” says James Vowles, pulling no punches about Cadillac’s upcoming F1 entry.
The American car giant is set to join the grid in 2026 with an impressive driver lineup featuring Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, plus American talent Colton Herta in a test driver role.
This marks the first new team since Haas joined back in 2016. But unlike Haas, Cadillac has bigger plans – they want to build both their chassis and eventually their own engines. For now, they’ll be using Ferrari power units.
Despite all the excitement and serious financial backing, Vowles isn’t convinced.
“I think it’s a bit early to bring them in,” he said on the Business of Sport podcast. “I think Cadillac, on the converse, is a strong brand and a good brand to bring in.”
His main concern? The financial health of the sport.
“Let’s get to the point where this sport is survivable, where you have 10 teams making at least break-even,” Vowles explained. “I’m not talking profit, just break even. And that was my ask.”
Vowles believes the current teams are already operating on razor-thin margins, and that should have been addressed before adding another competitor.
Money can’t buy experience in F1, according to the Williams boss. And he should know.
## Experience matters
Vowles is now in his third season leading Williams, but his F1 background runs deep. He spent over 15 years at Mercedes after joining during their takeover of the championship-winning Brawn GP team.
His opinion carries weight. After all, Williams has shown steady improvement each year under his leadership.
The team even scored their first podium with Vowles at the helm at the recent Baku race, giving his warning about Cadillac’s chances some serious credibility.
When a team that’s been in F1 for decades still finds it this challenging to compete, a newcomer faces an uphill battle – no matter how deep their pockets.
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