General Motors and TWG Global have reached an agreement in principle with Formula 1 to put a Cadillac-branded team on the grid in 2026.
GM says it “is also launching an F1 power unit 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”. No word yet on what the make up of the car will be for 2026, but it will likely be developed by TWG Global. This entity also owns and operates Andretti Global, which was behind GM’s bid from a few years ago. GM was set to join the grid a few years ago, having originally been approved by the FIA in 2023 but the bid was later rejected by Formula One Management in January 2024. But it’s all go again.
According to the release, the inclusion in F1 will; ‘contribute to GM’s push to drive the future of transportation, leveraging advanced electrification, powertrain, software, and internal combustion engine technology for consumers around the globe.’
There’s a sense of a marketing push too as F1 has become even more of show than ever in the past few years. As GM puts it; “Launching an F1 team will also highlight the Cadillac brand to a diverse international audience, showcasing GM’s technology and design capabilities.”
“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.”
“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.’’
Mario Andretti, will serve as a director on the team’s board.
Since GM’s bid to join F1 was announced in January 2023, Cadillac Formula 1 has assembled an experienced team to work on aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software, and vehicle dynamics simulation. The team has operations in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England.
