Cadillac Will Get Its Chance to Race in F1

After years of negotiating and being denied, Cadillac will be allowed to launch a team in F1.

It appears the drawn-out negotiations over Cadillac joining Formula 1, the world’s most prestigious motorsports competition, are finally wrapping up. General Motors confirmed today that “General Motors and TWG Global have reached an agreement in principle with Formula 1 to bring a Cadillac team to the series in 2026.” GM will have to buy engines to compete, in 2026, but the automaker is also launching a division to build its own F1 engine that will put the Cadillac Formula 1 Team on the path to being a “full works” team — building its own F1 vehicles and power units — by the end of the decade.

According to the Associated Press, the agreement to expand the grid to eleven teams and add Cadillac could be made in Las Vegas during the Las Vegas F1 race this weekend. Cadillac would be the first new team to join F1 since 2016. The Las Vegas race marks the third and final stop this year for F1 in the United States. The US. has three races, in Miami; Austin, Texas; and Las Vegas. That is more than any other country.

“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. 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,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”

Cadillac’s Road to F1

I have covered Cadillac’s attempt to compete in F1 since it was announced in 2023. GM is already racing and winning in several other series. F1 is truly the world stage and will put Cadillac on the world stage. At times, the denials from F1 seemed personal. While Formula 1 executives seemed to welcome Cadillac, the executives were unkind to the Andretti Group, GM’s former partner in the effort. Today’s announcement from Cadillac says that Mario Andretti, the last American F1 Champion, will serve as a director on the team’s board. It appears that Michael Andretti is reducing his involvement.

“My first love was Formula 1 and now – 70 years later – the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss,” said Mario Andretti. “To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming."

"We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Global’s motorsports businesses. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world. We appreciate FIA and FOM’s support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship.’’

In addition to the Cadillac F1 partnership with GM, TWG Global owns and operates Andretti Global, Wayne Taylor Racing, and Spire Motorsports. There is no mention of Michael Andretti, who raced one season in F1, in the announcement.

How Racing in F1 Will Help Cadillac

The advertising reach will be huge once the Cadillac team actually starts racing. F1 is gigantic globally, with millions of fans around the world. Innovations created for F1 will eventually find their way into Cadillac vehicles. GM will be able to leverage electrification, powertrain, software, and internal combustion engine technology for consumers around the world. Launching an F1 team will also highlight the Cadillac brand to an international audience, showcasing GM’s technology and design capabilities.

GM appeared confident from the start that a Cadillac team would one day be accepted. It has a huge team already working on aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software, and vehicle dynamics. According to Cadillac, the team has operations in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England.

Cadillac Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.