Insider Puts Cadillac F1 Team Under The Spotlight Amid Driver Uncertainty
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve has opened up on the uncertainty surrounding the Cadillac F1 team's driver lineup and its approach to racing in 2026.
Cadillac F1's initial bid, which was led by Andretti Global, was rejected on financial grounds. However, with an increased participation of General Motors and a new management owned and operated by TWG Global, the bid was approved for Cadillac F1 to become the sport's eleventh team in 2026.
However, with just ten rounds remaining for the conclusion of the 2025 season, the American outfit has yet to announce its driver lineup. Cadillac F1 reportedly prefers experienced drivers and is said to have shortlisted Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. But with an announcement yet to be made, the picture seems uncertain.
Cadillac F1 has partnered with Ferrari to procure its power units from 2026 until it fields its own power units in 2029. However, Villeneuve has raised questions, especially with Michael Andretti having moved out of the way, since the team is yet to establish itself. This is unlike Audi, which concluded its takeover of the Sauber F1 team, and the results are already showing in Sauber's performance. Speaking to RacingNews365, he said:
People attend an event to unveil the colors for the 2026 Cadillac debut in Formula One racing, ahead of the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix, in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2025.
People attend an event to unveil the colors for the 2026 Cadillac debut in Formula One racing, ahead of the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix, in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2025.
Giorgio VIERA / AFP/Getty Images
"Who knows what's going on there. It's not the same team as a year ago. The whole project has changed, and the way it came in, forcefully, is not the best way either, but at least now they're in, fine.
"The question is, what will they do? What drivers will they choose? Who do they put in place?"
Highlighting the improvements in Sauber's pace this season, Villeneuve added:
"When you look at what Sauber has done, with Audi coming in, [with] Jonathan Wheatley, you already see the results now, even though it's the same car. Just the way the energy, the working... So you can expect great things there.
"We don't know with Cadillac yet. They say they want experienced drivers, right? But you want good, experienced drivers...The other thing, we have no idea which engine will be good, that's a big... Well, okay, we'll find out."
The 1997 F1 champion emphasized that Cadillac F1 will have to sign a big paycheck if it wants to hire a good racing driver. He said:
"Depends on how much money they put on the table. Because you want to get one of those drivers [a pure racer], you're a new team, you need to put [down] a big cheque.
"But with the value of F1 now, the big cheque is nothing. It's peanuts compared to what it used to be."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
18 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows Tax Cuts Promised by Trump Administration Across 50 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan Washington-based think tank, has produced a map forecasting the effects of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act on taxes across the United States, broken down to the county level. The White House's website reposted the map, noting that the Tax Foundation said Trump's package would "reduce federal taxes on average for individual taxpayers in every state" and create almost 1 million jobs. Newsweek contacted the Tax Foundation for comment on Saturday outside regular office hours. Why It Matters Trump signed his One Big Beautiful Bill, the centerpiece of his economic agenda, into law on July 4 after it narrowly passed both the House and Senate. The Congressional Budget Office has said the legislation will add $2.4 trillion to the U.S. national debt, a forecast that contributed to a falling out between Trump and his previous close confidant Elon Musk. The One Big Beautiful Bill included sweeping tax cuts, reduced spending on Medicaid, and additional funding for the military and border security. It also raised the U.S. debt ceiling by $5 trillion. What To Know On Wednesday, the Tax Foundation published a study forecasting the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill on taxes paid by the average American on a county-by-county basis between 2026 and 2035. This was accompanied by a map showing the breakdown by county over this period. Two days later, the White House published a news release welcoming the study, which included a screenshot of the Tax Foundation's map taken for 2026. According to the Tax Foundation, the average tax cut per American for 2026 will be $3,752 because of Trump's spending package. This is forecast to fall to $2,505 in 2030 as some measures expire before increasing again to $3,301 in 2035. A map produced by the Tax Foundation showing the effects of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill in 2026 on a county-by-county basis. A map produced by the Tax Foundation showing the effects of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill in 2026 on a county-by-county basis. Tax Foundation The states forecast to see the largest tax cuts in 2926 are Wyoming ($5,375), Washington ($5,372) and Massachusetts ($5,139). By contrast, the smallest cuts are expected in West Virginia and Mississippi—at $2,503 and $2,401, respectively. In its report, the Tax Foundation described the One Big Beautiful Bill as "the most significant legislative changes to federal tax policy since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," which was passed in Trump's first term. The president's One Big Beautiful Bill contained a number of tax cuts, including extending corporation and income taxes he imposed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It also raises the cap on state and local tax deductions over the next five years to $40,000 for those making less than $500,000 per year, reduces tax on tips and overtime pay, and phases out some of former President Joe Biden's energy tax credits. The Tax Foundation also projected that the One Big Beautiful Bill would produce about 938,000 jobs "over the long run," including 132,000 in California and 81,000 in Texas. What People Are Saying White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in the news release: "President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is the largest, most consequential tax cut on the middle class ever. Now, the Tax Foundation—the leading nonpartisan tax policy nonprofit—confirms that. Between lower inflation, massive investments, and historic tax cuts, all Americans are reaping the benefits of the Trump Economy—and the Golden Age has just begun." What Happens Next While supporters of Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill may be buoyed by the Tax Foundation's report, which suggests it will result in widespread tax reductions and job creation, critics are likely to continue raising concerns about its effects on the national debt and Medicaid cuts.
Engadget
an hour ago
- Engadget
Court blocks FTC investigation into Media Matters' alleged scheme against X
The court has blocked the Federal Trade Commission's investigation into Media Matters, the media nonprofit that previously published research showing that ads appeared on X alongside neo-Nazi and other antisemitic content. In 2023, Elon Musk's X filed a lawsuit against the media watchdog following an advertiser exodus. It accused Media Matters of "knowingly and maliciously manufactur[ing] side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp.'s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white national fringe content." Just this May, the FTC started looking into whether the nonprofit violated antitrust laws by allegedly colluding with advertising and advocacy groups to boycott X. In June, Media Matters sued the FTC, accusing it of unfairly targeting the group in retaliation for past criticisms of X. "The Federal Trade Commission seeks to punish Media Matters for its journalism and speech in exposing matters of substantial public concern — including how has enabled and profited from extremist content that proliferated after Elon Musk took over the platform formerly known as Twitter," the group said at the time. Now, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan has granted a preliminary injunction in the nonprofit's favor. Sooknanan has agreed with the group that the FTC's investigation is "a retaliatory act" and has noted that it is "likely to succeed on its First Amendment retaliation claim." She wrote in her decision that such probes would deter other reporters from speaking again. "Indeed, the FTC's [investigation] has had its intended effect." Apparently, because of the probe, Media Matters has "decided against pursuing certain stories about the FTC, Chairman Ferguson, and Mr. Musk." "The court's ruling demonstrates the importance of fighting over folding, which far too many are doing when confronted with intimidation from the Trump administration," Angelo Carusone, the president of Media Matters, told The New York Times . "We will continue to stand up and fight for the First Amendment rights that protect every American." As the publication notes, courts had also blocked investigations into the group by the attorneys general in Texas and Missouri. Musk's lawsuits against the nonprofit, however, are still ongoing.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Bourbon blues: Five months into ban, Canadian bars running dry of Kentucky whiskey
Canadian bars that stocked up on Kentucky Bourbon are running on fumes five months into its nation's ban on US booze – yanking popular cocktails from menus or slapping on a premium for the scarce commodity. In March, provinces ordered their liquor stores to yank all American products from their shelves, in retaliation for the Trump administration slapping 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. One Canadian bar owner told The Post he stocked up on half gallons of Kentucky Bourbon to survive the trade war. 3 Rafferty, who stocked up in March, is down to his last few bottles of Bourbon. Courtesy of Johnny Rafferty 'When Ontario said it was going to take every American brand off the shelf, I went nuts,' said Johnny Rafferty, owner of Rose and Crown bar in Toronto. Rafferty bought six cases in March, each containing six bottles of the Bluegrass State spirit. 'When I showed up, they just had these monster bottles,' he said. 'I pretty much grabbed whatever I could.' He's now down to his last four — two bottles of Jim Beam, one Jack Daniel's and a Bulleit. 'If these tariffs lift, I think it'll be a free for all,' he said. 3 Canada pulled US booze from shelves back in March in response to US tariffs. REUTERS Another bar owner meanwhile has been overcharging customers who are desperate for a taste of Kentucky whiskey — the now rare liquor. 'Because it's in limited supply, I charge more for it, right?' Scott Swain, manager of Danu Social House told CBC News. 'It's a premium product right now.' 3 Except for Alberta, other provinces have stuck with the ban, even five months in. VCG via Reuters Connect Bourbon makers in Kentucky had slammed Canada's ban as a 'disproportionate response' to the trade war. Alberta — where some have warmed to the idea of a 51st state — lifted the US booze ban in June to help ease trade negotiations, but other Northern provinces have shown no sign of relenting.
