Cadillac is reportedly assessing Ferrari Driver Academy member Rafael Câmara as a potential candidate for a 2027 Formula 1 seat. This development comes as Colton Herta, currently Cadillac’s test and development driver, faces ongoing challenges in his 2026 Formula 2 campaign and in securing the necessary FIA Super Licence points.
The American team, which debuted in Formula 1 for the 2026 season, currently fields an experienced driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers signed multi-year contracts with Cadillac, a General Motors-backed entry, ahead of their inaugural season.
Herta transitioned from IndyCar to Formula 2 for the 2026 season with the explicit aim of accumulating the 40 Super Licence points required for an F1 entry. He currently holds 34 points from his 2024 and 2025 IndyCar seasons, with his 2023 points no longer counting.
As part of his development role, Herta is scheduled to participate in four Free Practice 1 sessions for Cadillac during the current 2026 F1 season. Each session, if 100km are completed, awards one Super Licence point, potentially adding four points to his tally.
However, Herta’s rookie F2 season has been challenging. He currently sits 16th in the championship standings, with a best finish of fifth place. This performance places him outside the top ten positions that guarantee a significant number of Super Licence points.
He still requires six additional Super Licence points. If he fails to secure these through his F2 results, he would need six FP1 appearances. The regulations mandate that Perez and Bottas only yield four sessions to rookie drivers.
Doubts within Cadillac regarding Herta’s readiness for Formula 1 have emerged due to his F2 performance. Herta himself stated in July 2026 that discussions about his future with the team for next year have not yet taken place.
In contrast, Rafael Câmara, a 2005-born Ferrari Driver Academy member, has demonstrated strong form in his own rookie Formula 2 season. Câmara has secured four pole positions and two feature race victories across the last five rounds.
Cadillac’s interest in Câmara stems from these recent performances, positioning him as a viable alternative for a 2027 seat should one become available. The team is closely monitoring his progress.
Speculation has also surrounded Valtteri Bottas’s position for 2027. Rumours of a potential replacement by Herta surfaced after the Canadian Grand Prix, where Bottas showed a performance deficit to teammate Perez.
Bottas has dismissed these reports, stating he is aware of his contractual situation. Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon also refuted the rumours, calling them ‘completely incorrect.’
Sergio Perez, who reportedly signed a multi-year deal worth approximately $10 million annually with performance incentives, has performed strongly against Bottas during the 2026 season.
Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 for 2026 marks the first new team since 2016. The team is utilising Ferrari power units until 2028, with a proprietary General Motors power unit scheduled for introduction in 2029.
Beyond Herta and Câmara, American driver Ugo Ugochukwu, currently leading the F3 Championship, is also accumulating Super Licence points and is considered a potential contender for a Cadillac F1 seat in 2027.
