Cadillac and General Motors had been seeking to join Formula 1 for several years, without success due to the opposition formed by the majority of existing teams keen to preserve their gains in the discipline (which could mechanically decline with an additional team on the grid). But thanks to the support of the American authorities who put pressure on the company that owns the Formula 1 rights, Cadillac can officially announce its arrival in the championship from the 2026 season with the support of the entire General Motors.
This arrival, which will coincide with that of new technical regulations (and the first season of the Audi team formerly Sauber as well as the Alpine F1 – Mercedes, Red Bull – Ford and Aston-Martin – Honda tandems), will take place with the TWG Global structure involving the famous American team Andretti Global dear to the family of the same name.
A Ferrari or Honda engine before…a block with Renault origins?
In 2026, the new Cadillac team will have to use a “client” engine from another manufacturer due to the lack of being able to design such a sophisticated powertrain in time. With Mercedes having reached its maximum quota of customer teams served that year with McLaren, Williams and Alpine F1 and the use of a Ford or Audi engine appearing unlikely, Cadillac would have to choose between a Honda or Ferrari powerplant.
Then, “before the end of the decade”, Cadillac will have had time to design its own powertrain which could equip its single-seaters. On this subject, the recent recruitment of several strong men from the Renault F1 engine program and rumors of recovery of part of the work and activities of the Viry-Châtillon factory suggest that the future Cadillac engine could retain some potential. DNA of the French block which Alpine will get rid of at the end of the 2025 season.
And there will also be two more seats to be filled for drivers on the Formula 1 world championship grid from 2026…
