Cadillac confirmed as 11th Formula 1 team
FIA approval finally given for Caddy's F1 effort - bring on 2026 already
After the will-they, won’t-they saga around Cadillac and Andretti Motorsport in Formula 1, there’s good news to report: the grid will welcome an 11th constructor in 2026, and it’s going to be the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. Backed by TWG Motorsport (a recently launched offshoot of the TWG Global sports investment company) and General Motors, the team should be on the grid in about 12 months, ready for the next Australian GP. Cadillac says its outfit will be a ‘distinctly American team with unique attributes’.
It isn’t clear exactly what’s changed since the previous bid was turned down, but it would seem nobody involved with Cadillac’s F1 proposal has been resting on their laurels. It will run with its own V6 after an initial two seasons with Ferrari customer power, and since that first announcement just over two years ago a team of more than 300 has been assembled. There are operations up and running in Indianapolis, Charlotte, Warren, Michigan and even little old Silverstone. They’re all in, for sure.
While it’s early days to be talking about notable staff, there have been some big appointments. Graeme Lowdon will be Team Principal (he was at Marussia once upon a time) and Russ O’Blenes brings a whole heap of IMSA Corvette powertrain experience to a job heading up the power units division. Officially his title is CEO of TWG GM Performance Power Units LLC, which will eventually be the company building the factory Cadillac chassis and power units.
“We’re thrilled the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is official, as the team has been accelerating its work,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the FIA and Formula One Management leadership for us and for our collaboration with TWG. The excitement only grows as we get closer to showcasing GM’s engineering expertise on the prestigious global stage of F1.”
Manufacturers like Aston Martin are only too keen to extol the virtues of F1 coverage on their brand awareness, so Cadillac will be hoping for more of the same; it’s probably fair to say they aren’t as known as they’d like to be - especially as far as performance cars go - outside of the US.
“Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “The FIA Formula One Championship's expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport.” Nothing like good news to kick off a new Formula 1 season - expect to hear plenty more during 2025 as next season looms large for Cadillac.
I'd say he's odds-on to be in the Cadillac car in 2026. He's American, he has experience and reasonable success in top-level single-seater motorsport but is still young enough to learn what he needs to learn to compete in F1. It's hard to see anyone else as appealing to them. The second seat is much harder to call. One has to imagine they'll want someone with decent experience in F1; Bottas, Ricciardo or Perez would fit the bill well.
I'd say he's odds-on to be in the Cadillac car in 2026. He's American, he has experience and reasonable success in top-level single-seater motorsport but is still young enough to learn what he needs to learn to compete in F1. It's hard to see anyone else as appealing to them. The second seat is much harder to call. One has to imagine they'll want someone with decent experience in F1; Bottas, Ricciardo or Perez would fit the bill well.
also 2026 new rules/cars? so new playfield tryout? ifso Cadillac could be in it (front 5)
also 2026 new rules/cars? so new playfield tryout? ifso Cadillac could be in it (front 5)
2026 is a new engine formula with significant, but not enormous, aero changes. The current engine manufacturers have been pouring resources into the new engine design for a while now though so Cadillac will have a fair bit of catching up to do (they're not going to have their own engine ready for 2026, they'll be using Ferrari engines initially).
Organizationally, they have too many different locations, and will struggle to keep communication and effort aligned. The pool of engineering at the top level is only so deep, so they'll have trouble finding staff that know what they're doing relative to the other teams. I just don't see it.
Expect tariffs on Red Bull, constant threats to take over Ferrari, and legal moves to try to get the orange livery off McLaren.
"Manufacturers like Aston Martin are only too keen to extol the virtues of F1 coverage on their brand awareness"
...which was the cornerstone of AM's recent return to a solid profit. Wait-
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff