Alex Lynn will miss the opening two rounds of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season after undergoing surgery to address a persistent neck injury. The 32-year-old Brit has dealt with the issue since 2024. Consequently, he has now opted for a planned procedure to ensure he can compete at full fitness later in the campaign.
Cadillac forced into early season adjustment as Lynn sits out opening two rounds of 2026 WEC campaign
Lynn’s absence affects Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA as it prepares for the season-opening 6 Hours of Imola and the following round at Spa-Francorchamps. As a result, the team’s No. 12 Cadillac V-Series.R will be driven by just Will Stevens and Norman Nato at Imola.
Moreover, both Cadillac entries will run with reduced driver line-ups for the opening race. The No. 38 car will also feature only two drivers, as Jack Aitken is unavailable due to commitments in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Long Beach.
Therefore, the team faces an added challenge in managing driver workload across the six-hour race.
Consistent presence interrupted
Since the introduction of the Cadillac V-Series.R programme in 2023, Lynn has been a constant presence in the championship. He has competed in every WEC round for Cadillac during that period. Notably, he secured a standout victory at Interlagos last season, underlining his importance to the team’s success.
However, this enforced break marks the first interruption to his WEC campaign with Cadillac.
The decision to proceed with surgery reflects a long-term approach to Lynn’s health and performance. The team confirmed the reasoning behind the move in an official statement:
“The decision has now been taken to address the issue ahead of the start of the season with a minor procedure to ensure that he is in the best possible shape for the rest of the year.”
Thus, while Lynn’s absence presents a short-term setback, the priority remains ensuring he returns fully fit for the remainder of the season.
With Lynn expected to return later in the campaign, Cadillac will aim to remain competitive during the opening rounds despite the reduced driver line-ups. At the same time, the situation places additional responsibility on Will Stevens and Norman Nato to deliver strong results under demanding conditions.
Ultimately, the team will hope that early challenges give way to a stronger, fully reinforced effort once Alex Lynn rejoins the line-up later in the season.
