Formula 1 has accepted a big change for 2026. Cadillac will thus become the 11th team in the paddock after taking over the Andretti project, long rejected by decision-makers. The American company is now working to arrive with the most resources and ambitions in its first season. To manage its project, Cadillac decided to trust Pat Symonds. The manager believes that General Motors' experience in motor sports will allow Cadillac to gain precious time, as he told Motorsport : “General Motors has a long history in motorsport, and I remember as a kid seeing the Chaparral 2F win the Brands Hatch 1000K [1967]. Jim Hall, the man behind Chaparral, always recognized GM's contribution to this program. More recently, thanks to its Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, GM has been competitive in endurance in addition to being an engine manufacturer in IndyCar. From Le Mans to Talladega, from endurance to stock car, they know how to win. »
Cadillac has confidence in its project
Pat Symonds explains that Cadillac has already planned everything to build its single-seater, which will be equipped for the first two seasons with a Ferrari engine: “Building a Formula 1 single-seater is a daunting but already well-documented task. The deadlines and milestones are well established and the team already has a large number of experienced people who have been designing and developing the car for some time. Alongside them, others have put in place the necessary processes to ensure we can meet the tight deadlines and unyielding quality that Formula 1 demands.” It's time for Cadillac to get to work.
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To summarize
Cadillac has spoken about its ambitions and the implementation of its program to join Formula 1 in 2026. The American team will make its big debut in the premier category and is already preparing accordingly.
