Pat Symonds, a veteran figure in Formula 1 engineering, officially began his role as Executive Engineering Consultant for the new Cadillac Formula 1 team on January 1, 2025. This marks a significant milestone for the American team, as the Symonds' decades of experience bring instant credibility and technical expertise to the ambitious project.
A New Beginning with Cadillac
Symonds' move comes after a seven-year stint as F1's Technical Director, where he played a key role in setting the sport's technical regulations, including the 2022 aerodynamic reset and sustainability initiatives. Its new challenge is daunting: guiding Cadillac, rebranded from Andretti Global, into the competitive fold of F1 by 2026. The team's entry was confirmed shortly after the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, after a prolonged process to secure his place on the grid.
Symonds expressed his enthusiasm for this adventure, noting the parallels between Cadillac's rich motorsport heritage and the challenges of entering Formula 1:
“Building a Formula 1 car is an overwhelming but well-documented task… Starting with the proverbial 'blank sheet of paper' presents many more opportunities than challenges. »
Cadillac Roadmap for 2026
The General Motors-backed Cadillac F1 team will initially use Ferrari power units and transmissions for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The long-term plan, however, is to develop a power unit in-house by 2028, a project that highlights GM's commitment to excel at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Key milestones include:
- Base de Silverstone : The team is building its infrastructure in Silverstone, England, taking advantage of its proximity to F1's engineering hub.
- Personnel : Symonds joins a growing cadre of seasoned F1 professionals, including technical director Nicholas Chester, COO Rob White and team principal Graeme Lowdon, all bringing deep experience of top-level teams.
Symonds' legendary career
Symonds' career spans decades, with key roles in some of F1's most iconic moments:
- The glory days of Benetton & Renault: As technical director, Symonds was instrumental in the world titles of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
- Virgin Racing & Williams : Symonds also played a key role in the early development of Virgin Racing and the return of Williams in the mid-2010s.
Now, Symonds is ready to bring that legacy to Cadillac, guiding it through the uncharted waters of building a competitive team from the ground up.
What's next for Cadillac?
The journey to 2026 will be a test of engineering excellence, project management and resilience. Although Symonds acknowledges the challenges, he remains optimistic about Cadillac's future:
“The team will be built around not only the highest engineering standards, but also the highest ESG standards as we work to make this the best team to work in Formula 1.”
With Symonds at the helm of its technical development and a team of experienced professionals, Cadillac aims to prove it can compete with the sporting giants. For fans and industry observers, the next few years promise to be an exciting chapter in Formula 1's evolving narrative.
