General Motors Makes First Move Toward Building Cadillac F1 Engines
General Motors has officially launched a new subsidiary, GM Performance Power Units LLC, to design and produce its future Formula 1 power units for the Cadillac F1 team.
The Cadillac F1 team will join the grid in 2026, initially using Ferrari power units before transitioning to its own in-house powertrain. GM Performance Power Units will build a dedicated facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, to design, develop, and build power units.
Russ O’Blenes, currently GM's director of motorsports propulsion and performance, has been appointed as the CEO of the newly formed company.
The facility is scheduled to open in 2026, with the goal of bolting a General Motors Formula 1 engine to a Cadillac tub before the end of the decade. The new power unit entity is a collaboration between GM and TWG Motorsports, the racing division of TWG Global, which is involved in the Cadillac F1 project, the Andretti IndyCar team, and Wayne Taylor Racing in IMSA.
During the announcement, GM president Mark Reuss praised O’Blenes’ track record, which includes overseeing the development of championship-winning IMSA Cadillac and Corvette engines. “In F1, we’re going to demonstrate GM’s engineering and technology capabilities on a global stage, and Russ is the right choice to lead the power unit team that will make it happen.”
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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Uh huh,,,, I had a Northstar engine. This will be amusing.