Cadillac F1 Team

Team Background

The Cadillac F1 Team represents a historic moment for Formula 1 - the first new team entry in years and the arrival of General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, in the sport. Backed by GM and racing under the iconic Cadillac brand, the team brings American automotive engineering heritage to the pinnacle of single-seater racing. The entry was formally approved by the FIA and Formula One Management after a lengthy application process that initially faced resistance from existing teams. The arrival of an 11th team on the grid expands the field to 22 cars and brings significant American corporate investment to the sport at a time when F1's popularity in the United States is at an all-time high. The team's leadership structure is still being finalized as operations ramp up, but the GM backing provides resources and engineering capability that few new entrants in F1 history have enjoyed. The team is running Ferrari customer power units in its debut season while developing plans for its own GM-built engine in the future.

2026 Season

Career Stats

Team History

The Cadillac F1 Team's story begins with the broader effort to bring a new American team to the Formula 1 grid. The project, originally associated with the Andretti name and Michael Andretti's motorsport group, sought to capitalize on F1's explosive growth in the United States following the success of the Netflix series "Drive to Survive," the return of the United States Grand Prix, and the addition of new races in Miami and Las Vegas. The initial application faced significant opposition from several existing teams who argued that an 11th entry would dilute revenue sharing.

The involvement of General Motors transformed the bid. When GM committed to backing the entry under its Cadillac brand - and eventually building its own power unit - the application gained the industrial credibility that regulators and commercial rights holders demanded. The FIA approved the entry, and General Motors' full backing brought resources, engineering talent, and corporate infrastructure that few new F1 teams in history have enjoyed. Cadillac is one of America's oldest and most prestigious automotive brands, with a heritage dating back to 1902 and a name synonymous with American luxury and engineering excellence.

GM also brings significant motorsport pedigree to the project. Cadillac has been a dominant force in IMSA sports car racing, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona multiple times with its DPi and later LMDh prototype programs. Chevrolet, a sister brand under the GM umbrella, has been a major force in IndyCar racing for decades and has deep experience in American open-wheel competition. The engineering knowledge gained across these programs provides a foundation for the F1 effort, even though Grand Prix racing presents unique challenges that no amount of sports car or IndyCar experience can fully prepare a team for.

For the 2026 debut season, Cadillac is running Ferrari customer power units while developing its own GM-built engine for future seasons. Valtteri Bottas, the experienced Finnish driver and former Mercedes teammate to Lewis Hamilton, brings invaluable knowledge of what it takes to compete at the front of the F1 grid. The second driver seat is yet to be confirmed. With zero points through the early rounds, the team is going through the inevitable learning curve that every new entrant faces. The real measure of the Cadillac project will come over the next several seasons as the team builds its infrastructure, develops its own power unit, and establishes itself as a permanent fixture on the grid. For American motorsport fans, the arrival of Cadillac in F1 represents a dream decades in the making.

Current Drivers

Interesting Facts

• Cadillac F1 is the first genuinely new team to join the F1 grid in over a decade, expanding the field from 10 to 11 teams and 20 to 22 cars.
• General Motors is one of the world's largest automakers, and Cadillac's entry brings one of the biggest corporate backers in F1 history to the sport.
• GM plans to eventually build its own F1 power unit, which would make it the first American manufacturer to supply engines in F1 since Ford's Cosworth partnership ended.
• Valtteri Bottas won 10 Grands Prix as Lewis Hamilton's teammate at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, bringing front-running experience to the new team.
• Cadillac has won the 24 Hours of Daytona multiple times in IMSA, demonstrating GM's commitment to top-level prototype racing.

Related Pages

• 2026 F1 Season Hub
• Valtteri Bottas Driver Profile
• Haas - Fellow American F1 team
• Ferrari - Engine supplier
• Audi - Fellow new manufacturer entry
• Mercedes - Bottas's former team