It began with a single phone call. An unassuming exchange between Ferrari’s head of power unit development and executives at General Motors. For years, Michael Andretti—son of Formula 1 champion Mario Andretti—had tried to thrust an American team into F1’s inner circle. Yet every path seemed blocked by tight-knit European powerhouses who questioned the value of another competitor. The conversation with Ferrari changed all of that.
Cadillac’s official entry into Formula 1—targeted for 2026—reflects over two years of intense negotiations. Behind closed doors, Andretti Global and General Motors worked to convince both the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) that they could energize the grid rather than dilute it. Skeptics demanded hard proof: Was Cadillac ready to invest in advanced engine technology? Could the team recruit top-tier motorsport talent? And would an American outfit generate enough revenue to justify altering Formula 1’s carefully balanced ecosystem?
By early 2025, those questions were answered. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem granted final approval based on Cadillac’s solid funding, technical partnerships, and commitment to becoming a full works team. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali then echoed the decision, highlighting General Motors’ promise to develop their own power units in the near future. That ultimate nod of support opened a fresh chapter in Formula 1—a sport predominantly shaped by European giants.
For its first season or two, Cadillac will rely on Ferrari power units. This collaboration guarantees reliability, immediate performance potential, and reduces the daunting workload of designing an F1 engine from scratch. But as Mark Reuss, President of GM, explained in a statement to reporters, “We see F1 as the future for motorsport innovation. That future includes our own power unit.” GM has already established a specialized facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, to develop Cadillac-branded engines by the end of the decade.
This approach mirrors the path once taken by Red Bull, which began as a customer team and gradually developed in-house powertrain capabilities. It’s a blueprint that reassures fans and investors alike: Cadillac can compete effectively with Ferrari’s help and transition to complete autonomy when ready.
Operating from a primary headquarters near Silverstone and additional facilities in Fishers, Indiana, Cadillac’s F1 program merges expertise from both sides of the Atlantic. Graeme Lowdon—formerly of Marussia—has stepped in as Team Principal, while seasoned engineers such as Pat Symonds and Nick Chester guide the car’s aerodynamic and mechanical design. This dual-continent strategy pays homage to the sport’s British engineering core yet offers a distinctly American flavor to the operation.
For motorsports enthusiasts in the United States, that American identity is more than symbolic. Haas F1 Team, despite its U.S. registration, never fully tapped into crossover promotions or high-profile American drivers, leaving a gap in the market. Cadillac sees an opportunity to fill this void with dedicated branding, strategic outreach, and possibly an American driver to serve as a true homegrown hero.
Colton Herta stands out as a leading candidate for Cadillac’s 2026 driver lineup. A standout in IndyCar, Herta has both the skill and personality to capture American fans’ imaginations. Over the past decade, numerous U.S. hopefuls struggled to break into Formula 1, partly due to the superlicense points system and partly due to a lack of stable team support. If Cadillac commits to running an American driver, it could spark a renaissance in U.S. interest—especially if that driver has already proven himself on home soil.
Still, experience remains vital. The team may look to secure a veteran driver—someone like Sergio Pérez or Valtteri Bottas—to guide development in their inaugural season. Blending a seasoned F1 racer with a rising American star could balance performance needs with the marketing potential of a driver who resonates with domestic audiences.
Money shapes Formula 1 as much as speed. Existing teams fiercely guarded their prize money and demanded hefty compensation before allowing an eleventh entrant onto the grid. That’s where the anti-dilution fee entered the picture—a one-time sum Cadillac must pay to offset reduced revenue for incumbents. Initially set at $200 million, discussions pushed it north of $450 million, with some insiders claiming the real figure may be even higher under future Concorde Agreements.
Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner of Red Bull both questioned whether new teams truly add value or merely chip away at existing profits. Cadillac countered by showcasing GM’s engineering might, a robust business plan, and an explicit goal to attract more fans—particularly in the lucrative U.S. market. That promise of “growing the pie” helped secure support from FIA and eventually F1 stakeholders.
Cadillac’s entry dovetails with a broader Formula 1 transformation. In the past five years, the series has exploded in popularity stateside—thanks in part to Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” and high-profile Grand Prix events in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas. The arrival of an iconic American manufacturer offers another compelling storyline. For F1, welcoming Cadillac means more than just adding a name to the roster. It signals a global championship evolving beyond its European cradle, ready to challenge new frontiers and connect with diverse audiences.
Many questions linger. Can Cadillac’s F1 operation blend American gusto with the precision engineering required to fight for points—or even podiums—by 2026? Will the team galvanize a new wave of U.S. motorsport fans, bridging the gap between IndyCar, NASCAR, and F1? And how soon will GM’s in-house power unit become a legitimate threat to established giants like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull?
The excitement lies in the unknown. Yet one thing is certain: a new chapter for American racing will unfold when Cadillac’s cars line up on the Formula 1 grid. This watershed moment represents a unique fusion of American ambition and European tradition, meticulously documented by investigative reports and shaped by small, revelatory details that hint at a larger truth: Formula 1, once an exclusive club, may be entering its most transformative era yet.