Luster English

Formula 1 Welcomes Cadillac as the Eleventh Team in 2026

Cadillac will make its Formula 1 debut in the 2026 season following an agreement between the championship and General Motors, which will bring the renowned automaker into the world’s most prestigious motorsport series.

Por: Rubén Carrillo November 27, 2024

Formula 1 Welcomes Cadillac as the Eleventh Team in 2026 / Photo via Cadillac

The new team will compete as the eleventh entry on the grid under the Cadillac banner.

Since 2017, Formula 1 has maintained a cap of 10 teams, and until earlier this year, there were no plans to expand. In January, Liberty Media, the Colorado-based owner of the series, rejected a joint proposal from Andretti Global and General Motors, stating there would be no grid expansion before 2028.

This decision sparked criticism, including a bipartisan request from U.S. Congress asking why an American team was being excluded from the competition.

However, the landscape shifted significantly in September. Michael Andretti, who had previously called Formula 1 and its teams “greedy” for resisting his bid, stepped down as head of Andretti Global, as reported by the Associated Press.

This opened the door for the team to adopt the Cadillac name, now managed by Andretti Global’s new majority owners, Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. Additionally, racing legend Mario Andretti, Michael’s father, will serve as an ambassador for the team.

In announcing the agreement, Formula 1 stated it had “maintained a dialogue” with GM despite earlier tensions.

While concerns were raised about the team’s ability to be competitive from the start, the championship acknowledged that GM had achieved key “operational milestones” demonstrating its commitment to the sport. Adding an American team could prove significant for Formula 1, which has seen a surge in popularity in the U.S., now hosting three Grand Prix events.

Despite this, ESPN reports that the Cadillac team will operate from a base in England.

“As the pinnacle of motorsports, Formula 1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence,” GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement. “It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world.”

There are still many details to be finalized before Cadillac’s debut in 2026. Although GM plans to develop its own powertrains, the first units will not be ready in time for the debut season, and possibly not even by 2027.

This means the team will need to secure a customer engine agreement with an existing manufacturer. According to the Associated Press, Ferrari will supply Cadillac’s engines for the first two seasons.

For Cadillac, the challenge goes beyond simply joining the competition. Backed by one of the world’s largest automakers, the brand has little motorsport heritage and will start from scratch against ten well-established teams.

Building a competitive outfit could take up to a decade of substantial investment and hiring the right personnel. Whether GM is prepared to be this patient remains to be seen.

If you found this article about Cadillac interesting, please share it. You can also check this article about Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 in our Luster English section

Formula 1 Welcomes Cadillac as the Eleventh Team in 2026

Aliados

gentlemanusa.com

runonworld.com

plpg.news

Subscribe To Our Magazine

Digital Magazine