re: 2026 Formula 1 (F1) Season Thread

One can dream,

I hope they have another historic race next year at COTA so we can experience the sound of V8 and V10s

There was a video floating around from a few weeks back... It was a RB car running around the track and the post claimed it was a V8 in it and was what they were considering for 2030.

It def didn't sound like a V8, more like V10 or even V12.

I'll have to see if I can find it.

ETA

That sounds pretty good


On another note, Caddy seems intent on putting Herta in the second seat

Yeh the marketing department at work with words. All fuel is sustainable as long as it's manufactured. I'd like to see a coal fueled F1 car. Now this would be entertaining in the corners and passing!

I might be wrong but Herta is going to look really bad in F1. Maybe caddy sees some big revenue stream since he is an American driver. Just don't get it.

I don’t know if he can do much worse than Bottas has this season so they might as well get him in there sooner than later if they are dead set on doing it. Let him learn the ropes while they are the back of the pack and hopefully he will have adjusted by the time their car is competitive.

I’m not a huge Herta fan, he was good in INDYCAR but not great. Didn’t seem like he was fighting for wins every week.

I expected more out of Bottas this year tho, his qualifying has been decent but he hasn’t really been close to Checo on race pace.

Yeah I don't understand why Herta is going to be the next guy in the Cadillac seat, I'm sure there are numerous F2 drivers who would be a better choice. But for me it shows the Andretti connection is still strong even if the Andretti name is not uttered (outside if Mario's ambassador role).

quote:

---

I’m not a huge Herta fan, he was good in INDYCAR but not great. Didn’t seem like he was fighting for wins every week.

---

Herta was fast but inconsistent, and he made too many mistakes, especially when he was the fastest guy on track and felt the pressure to win. And his F2 struggles don't bode well at all for success in F1 machinery.

Regarding Bottas, I think he will have fun in IndyCar and feel rejuvenated with the newness of it all, and will enjoy staying in one country for most of the year where he'll have more time to do his gravel racing or whatever he's into. Unfortunately it's probably too late to get a seat for 2027. I just looked it up, Bottas's contract with Cadillac goes through 2027, but his seat is not confirmed (while Perez is confirmed). Looks like if Herta can get in his 24 FP1 laps, he will replace Bottas.

Also I just read that it is absolutely crucial for Herta to get his superlicense this year, because his 30 points for finishing P2 in the 2024 IndyCar championship will expire at the end of 2026. There is also controversy if he's one-point or two-points shy of the required 40 points. If he gets in 24 FP1 laps but the FIA declares that he's still one-point shy of a superlicense, Cadillac will have to give him an additional FP1 session before the end of the season.

Sergio resigned

NY Times; Sergio resigns

quote:

---

Sergio Pérez has signed a multi-year contract extension with Cadillac, tying him to the American team until at least 2029.

His previous deal was through 2027, similar to that of teammate Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss told The Athletic during the British Grand Prix weekend earlier this year.

---

quote:

---

When asked whether there’s a scenario where he wouldn’t be racing for the American team despite having the contract, Bottas said, “I mean, it is Formula 1. If cows could fly, you know. Anything can always happen in this sport. But for now, they seem happy with what they’re getting out of me. I think that’s all that matters.”

---

quote:

---

Heard a few do demos around COTA a few years ago. And Danny Ric run Earnhardt's old car. Such a beautiful sound.

---

We plan on buying tickets and camping as soon as they go on sale for next years race

quote:

---

I feel like a hyphen is missing here

---

Agreed. Had to do a double take!

“Signs an extension” is better