The Formula 1 landscape is set for a dramatic shake-up in 2026 with the arrival of Cadillac as the sport’s 11th team, and the rumor mill is already churning at full speed. At the center of the speculation is Colton Herta, the Andretti Global IndyCar star who appears poised to make the leap to F1, with Cadillac reportedly having “already offered” him a contract. Herta’s current IndyCar salary—said to be a whopping seven million dollars annually, far exceeding the three-to-four-million-dollar range of his peers—has fueled chatter that his move to Formula 1 is all but sealed. Yet, while Herta’s name seems etched in stone for one of Cadillac’s seats, the bigger mystery lingers: who will join the American driver in this bold new venture?

Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1, officially confirmed for the 2026 season, marks a significant moment for the sport, particularly for American motorsport fans. Backed by General Motors, the team has wasted no time assembling a roster of heavy hitters behind the scenes. From Graeme Lowdon to Mario Andretti and Peter Crolla, Cadillac is stacking its leadership with experience and pedigree. Though the team’s name has shifted from Andretti Global to Cadillac, the Andretti influence remains strong. Mario Andretti, now a non-executive director, and CEO Dan Towriss have been vocal in their support for Herta, who has been a standout in IndyCar under the Andretti banner. For many, Herta’s transition to F1 feels like a natural progression, a reward for his talent and a nod to the team’s American roots.

Dutch racing driver and pundit Renger van der Zande is among those convinced that Herta’s deal is done. Speaking on Ziggo Sport, he pointed to Herta’s hefty IndyCar paycheck as evidence of Cadillac’s commitment. “One of the signs that it will be Herta is that he is the highest-paid IndyCar driver with seven million dollars a year,” Van der Zande explained. “That’s because they have actually already offered him a contract in Formula 1.” The financial disparity between Herta and his IndyCar counterparts suggests something bigger is at play, and Cadillac’s ambitions in F1 seem to be the driving force. With Herta seemingly locked in, attention now turns to the second seat—and the speculation is heating up.

Fellow Ziggo Sport pundit Jack Plooij has thrown a wildcard into the mix: Mercedes star George Russell. “Who do you put next to him?” Plooij mused. “George Russell in 2026? He has to get out, because Max has to get in. I’d throw everything at Russell.” Plooij’s theory hinges on a bold prediction—that three-time world champion Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull for Mercedes at the end of the current season, forcing Russell out. It’s a claim that has raised eyebrows, not least from Verstappen’s father, Jos, who dismissed it as “nonsense” on social media. “Jack Jack Jack. What nonsense you talk,” he posted on X. Yet, Plooij isn’t alone in entertaining the idea. Van der Zande added fuel to the fire, hinting at a possible meeting between Verstappen and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “I saw that Max had landed at Eindhoven Airport on Thursday,” he revealed. “Then Toto Wolff’s plane also happened to land there half an hour later. They also left again with half an hour difference. I don’t believe it was a coincidence.”

The notion of Verstappen swapping Red Bull for Mercedes—or even Aston Martin, as other rumors suggest—has been a persistent subplot in F1’s rumor mill. However, Verstappen himself has remained steadfast, insisting that his happiness at Red Bull, bolstered by consistent wins, keeps him rooted. “As long as I’m happy at Red Bull, I’ll stay at Red Bull,” he’s said repeatedly. Winning, it seems, is what fuels Verstappen’s loyalty. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s driver lineup remains a tantalizing puzzle. Names like Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen have surfaced as potential candidates, but Russell’s inclusion would be a blockbuster move—if Plooij’s hunch proves prophetic. For now, Herta stands as the cornerstone of Cadillac’s F1 debut, a symbol of American ambition on the global stage. Whoever joins him will shape the team’s identity—and perhaps the sport’s future—as 2026 draws closer.