General Motors Officially Announces Cadillac Formula 1 Team

It's official: Formula 1 has announced General Motors and Cadillac will enter the championship as the 11th team starting in 2026.

The arrangement will see the team operating as a customer outfit initially, with plans to develop its Cadillac power unit for debut "before the end of the decade". Cadillac will be the first new team to join F1 since 2016.

Cadillac's statement points to the ability to refine advanced electrification, powertrain, software, and internal combustion engine technology as the primary driver. It doesn't hurt that the Cadillac brand will regularly showcase alongside the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, and Aston Martin, all while broadcasting to a diverse international audience.

“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”

This saga has been playing out for over a year. Andretti Global initially partnered with Cadillac but was rejected by Formula 1 itself in 2023, despite approval from the FIA. Officials cited concerns about the proposal’s value to the championship, along with tensions over Michael Andretti’s approach.

The situation shifted when Andretti stepped back from the daily operations of Andretti Global, transferring leadership and majority ownership to Dan Towriss. Towriss, alongside GM, presented a revised proposal that ultimately gained Formula 1’s provisional approval.

No details were provided on Cadillac's plan to secure a power unit for 2026. It's presumed Sauber's existing Ferrari engine supply will be up for grabs once Sauber switches to an Audi-developed powertrain in 2026.

When asked about the rumors during the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur was coy. “We are waiting for the official announcement of the eleventh team and then in that case we will talk about their engines.” Expect more details to emerge shortly.

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