Cadillac Receives Final Approval for 2026 F1 Entry
Cadillac today received the final approval to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
The FIA and Formula 1 announced that following sporting, technical and commercial assessments Cadillac's bid has received the green light to join the championship. The team, an evolution of the Andretti entry that has striven to join the grid since 2022, reached an agreement in principle with Formula 1 last October.
'The commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport,' Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said.
'I want to thank GM and TWG Motorsports for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for what will be another exciting year for Formula 1.'
Added FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem: 'The FIA Formula One Championship's expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport.'
The agreement in principle last year came after the removal of Michael Andretti from the day-to-day running of Andretti Global, following its purchase by TWG Global, the investment vehicle of billionaire Mark Walter, with Dan Towriss taking the role of CEO.
The organization continued to invest in personnel and infrastructure after its initial rejection by Formula 1 in early 2024, opening a U.K. base at Silverstone, which has continued to work on the 2026 car.
Graeme Lowdon was officially appointed as Cadillac's team principal, having been a long-term advisor to the project, while Nick Chester, Rob White and Pat Symonds are among the senior personnel on the technical side.
The team has also recently recruited Pete Crolla as team manager, moving across from Haas, where he played a key role in getting the squad up and running.
Motorsport legend Mario Andretti holds an advisory role on the Board of Directors.
"For the past years, we have worked hand in hand with GM, to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary F1 entry,' said Towriss. 'Now, with 2026 in our sights after today's final approval from the FIA and Formula 1, we're accelerating our efforts—expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies and continuing to assemble top-tier talent.'
Added Lowdon: 'I couldn't be more proud of the effort put in by the entire Cadillac Formula 1 Team. This announcement is the next step in getting on the grid and continues our efforts towards building a full-works team. Through the long and thorough application process, we have never lost pace in our planning or our belief in the mission. We can't wait to go racing and give fans a new team to cheer for.'
Cadillac will initially be powered by Ferrari, and use the marque's gearboxes, until its own technology is readied.
The organization has founded GM Performance Power Units LLC, headed by Russ O'Blenes and based in Charlotte, to develop a Formula 1 power unit.
GM initially outlined its intention to ready its own power unit for 2028 but has more recently indicated that its target is 'by the end of the decade.'
Cadillac has not yet named its driver lineup for 2026, with several drivers exiled at the end of 2024 ostensibly candidates for the vacancies, such as Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and Zhou Guanyu.
Bottas and Zhou hold active 2025 Formula 1 roles, as reserve drivers at Mercedes and Ferrari respectively, with Lowdon involved in the management of Zhou's career.
IndyCar front-runner Colton Herta has also been linked to the team through his connection to the organization and Towriss.
As a prospective entrant Cadillac must abide by Formula 1's budget cap regulations, and rules on wind tunnel and CFD testing time per the FIA's sliding scale, with Cadillac allotted the same as last year's last-placed team. It must also pay the anti-dilution fee – which is set to be significantly higher than $200m once the new Concorde Agreement is reached – to be distributed among the existing 10 teams.
Cadillac's arrival means Formula 1 will in 2026 have 11 teams for the first time in a decade.
It will also be the first new team in the championship since Haas joined the grid in 2016.
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