General Motors & Cadillac’s bid to compete in what is known as the pinnacle of Motorsport has finally borne fruit. After 13 years of having just 10 teams on the Formula One grid, things will finally change in 2026. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has received official approval from the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) to join the highly competitive motorsport series, therefore becoming the 11th team on the grid in 2026.
A New Era In Formula One
The 2026 F1 season will bring major changes in regulations that will affect how the sport functions, resulting in completely new cars racing in F1 2026. While the 10 current F1 teams prepare for the 2025 F1 season and 2026’s regulations, news of Cadillac’s F1 entry has dropped.
Backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors (GM), the team will enter the FIA Formula One World Championship in March 2026, marking a new chapter in the sport’s history. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem celebrated the decision, calling it a “transformative moment” for the championship. After all, this is a delayed yet direct result of his announcement in 2023. More on that later.
An American Powerhouse Joins The Grid
The team’s entry represents a significant shift, as it brings an all-American outfit to the grid, powered by the expertise of TWG Motorsports and the technological prowess of GM. TWG CEO Dan Towriss emphasized their commitment, saying, “For the past year, we have worked hand in hand with GM to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary Formula 1 entry. Now, with 2026 in our sights after today’s final approval, we’re accelerating our efforts—expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies, and assembling top-tier talent.”
General Motors President Mark Reuss echoed the excitement: “We’re thrilled the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is official. The excitement only grows as we get closer to showcasing GM’s engineering expertise on the prestigious global stage of F1.”
Graeme Lowdon, an experienced motorsports executive, will serve as Team Principal. Additionally, Russ O’Blenes will head TWG GM Performance Power Units LLC, a new entity focusing on Cadillac’s long-term goal of developing its own Formula 1 power unit by 2028.
The Challenging Road To F1
The journey to Cadillac’s F1 entry has been eventful. Initially, the project began as an Andretti-led initiative, but after facing resistance from Formula One Management (FOM) in early 2024, a strategic pivot led to a stronger manufacturer-backed proposal. With TWG Motorsports taking charge, FOM saw greater value in Cadillac’s direct involvement. This transition was pivotal in securing the final approval. However, Martio Andretti still has a crucial role to play.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali underscored the significance of this decision: “The commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport. I want to thank GM and TWG for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026.”
Cadillac’s F1 Entry — The Timeline
-
January 2023 – FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem opens the door to expanding the F1 grid and invites expressions of interest from prospective teams.
-
February 2023 – The FIA officially launches the process to identify potential new teams, setting strict criteria for selection.
-
May 2023 – Seven applications are submitted, with four making it to the next evaluation stage.
-
October 2023 – The FIA announces that Andretti-Cadillac is the only team meeting its criteria and advances it to the next stage of negotiations with FOM.
-
January 2024 – FOM rejects the Andretti-Cadillac bid, arguing it would not add significant value to the championship, leading to the Andretti name taking a backseat.
-
November 2024 – F1 reaches an agreement in principle with GM to introduce a Cadillac works team instead of the original Andretti-led entry.
-
March 2025 – The FIA and FOM grant final approval for Cadillac’s entry, confirming its participation in the 2026 season.
Preparation & Development
Since the bid’s announcement in January 2023, TWG Motorsports has built a dedicated workforce of over 300 personnel, working on aerodynamics, chassis development, and software simulations. With facilities in Indianapolis, Charlotte, Warren, and Silverstone, the team has been making steady progress in preparation for 2026.
Cadillac’s entry also aligns with F1’s sustainability goals, as the new 2026 regulations emphasize hybrid powertrain advancements. The team will initially use Ferrari power units but aims to introduce its own GM-developed engine by 2028, further establishing itself as a competitive force in the championship.
Potential Driver Lineup
Mario Andretti, who is on the board of directors for the new F1 team, had previously explained that the team would be interested in having an American driver lead the charge. Rumours suggest IndyCar driver Colton Herta is being considered for the role. Cadillac F1 Team Principal Graeme Lowdon has reportedly said, “For sure we’re going to hire drivers based on merit. But as such, we see no reason why we won’t have American drivers in time.”
We expect Cadillac F1 to make a driver announcement in the second half of the 2025 F1 season, which is scheduled to begin next week with the season’s first free practice in Australia on 14 March. Cadillac will field two racecars, hence two main drivers are expected to be announced alongside one or two reserve drivers, so stay tuned for more details.
