Delhi

Cadillac, General Motors to join F1 in 2026

The Cadillac F1 outfit will initially run as a factory team, but GM is developing its own engine.

2 min read•26 Nov '24

Unnatee Gidithuri

10K+ views

Cadillac is set to join the Formula 1 grid as the 11th team starting in 2026. F1 has confirmed that it has reached an "in principle" agreement with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM-owned Cadillac to the championship.

GM has also confirmed plans to build its own engine “by the end of the decade”, which will transform the team into a full-fledged factory outfit.

Cadillac to become 11th F1 team from 2026
GM is working on its own power units
Mario Andretti will serve as director on the team’s board

“With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport,” said Greg Maffei, president and CEO of Liberty Media.

“We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1. We are excited to move forward with the application process for the GM/Cadillac team to enter the Championship in 2026.”

What about Andretti?

Earlier this year, F1 rejected the Cadillac-backed Andretti team’s bid to join the grid, stating “We do not believe that the applicant has shown that it would add value to the championship”. However, since then, Michael Andretti has stepped back from the day-to-day running of Andretti Global.

1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti

As a result, the Andretti name won’t be part of Cadillac’s restructured F1 project, but there is still some involvement. All official communication states that the new team will run in association with TWG Global, the company that owns and operates Andretti Global. Moreover, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti will serve as a director on the team’s board.

The new Cadillac team will pick up where Andretti left off, with operations in Indiana, North Carolina, Michigan, and Silverstone. The team has already acquired some high-profile names including former Renault F1 technical director Nick Chester, ex-F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds, and former Renault F1 engine chief Rob White.

“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.”