PREVIEW

A Cadillac Formula 1 team will be on the grid from 2026, US motoring giant General Motors have announced.

They also unveiled striking preliminary designs for the new car, with a two-tone blue and white livery.
Partnering with TWG Global, GM plans to establish the Cadillac Formula 1 Team and is set to develop its own power unit later in the decade.

A statement released on Monday confirmed the ambitious plans, with GM committing to name its new team after the Cadillac brand and eventually transition to a “full works” operation by producing its own cars and engines. Formula 1 described the application process as set to “move forward”.
Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Media, which holds the commercial rights to F1, welcomed the announcement.

He said: “With Formula 1’s continued growth in the US, we have always believed that welcoming a prestigious American brand like Cadillac to the grid, alongside GM as a future power unit supplier, would add significant value and excitement to the sport. We are thrilled to move forward with the application process for the GM/Cadillac team to join the Championship in 2026.”

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of motorsport’s governing body the FIA, also voiced his support, noting: “General Motors is a global powerhouse in the OEM world, and its collaboration with TWG Global is impressive. The FIA is committed to working with all parties to ensure the process progresses smoothly, and we look forward to seeing a Cadillac-branded team on the grid in 2026.”

The Cadillac team is expected to use a customer engine from an existing supplier during its initial years on the grid, as GM’s bespoke power unit is unlikely to be ready before 2028. However, the commitment to develop its own engine marks a significant step towards establishing Cadillac as a fully independent competitor in Formula 1.

This move further underscores Formula 1’s rising popularity in America, with three races held in the US and one each in neighbouring Mexico and Canada.