Formula 1 | Cadillac F1: Already almost two years of work with ‘an experienced team’

General Motors welcomed the agreement reached with Liberty Media allowing the Cadillac brand to enter F1 from 2026 as a customer team, before becoming a full-fledged manufacturer when the engine program is in turn ready. Mark Reuss, CEO of GM, sees this as an opportunity for the group to make progress on its road technologies.

“We are delighted that our new Cadillac Formula 1 team will be powered by a GM engine” Reuss said. “With our engineering and racing expertise, we are confident that we will develop a successful powertrain. We will race with the best, at the highest level, with passion and integrity, which will help elevate the sport for the fans around the world.”

“Engineering an F1 powertrain will advance GM’s expertise in areas such as electrification, hybrid technology, sustainable fuels, high-efficiency internal combustion engines, advanced controls and systems software.”

The commercial aspect is also favored for the Cadillac brand, whose LMDh prototype (photo below) has acquired a certain popularity in WEC: “Launching an F1 team will also showcase the Cadillac brand to a diverse international audience, showcasing GM’s capabilities in technology and design.”

While the 2026 horizon seems very close to have a viable Formula 1 project, Reuss recalls that the team created by Michael Andretti has been working on single-seaters for almost two years in several infrastructures.

“Since announcing GM’s F1 bid in January 2023, Cadillac F1 has assembled an experienced team to work on aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software and vehicle dynamics simulation. The team is present in Fishers (Indiana), Charlotte (North Carolina), Warren (Michigan) and Silverstone (England).”