The American powerhouse set to change Formula 1 in 2026

January 6, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

A new force arrives on the grid

Eleven teams are expected to line up for the opening round of the 2026 season at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, when Cadillac is scheduled to make its Formula 1 debut.

According to Formula1.com and reporting by senior editor Greg Stuart, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team will become the sport’s 11th entrant, joining at the same time as sweeping new regulations reshape chassis and power unit design.

Although Audi is also set to appear under a new banner in 2026, that effort is built on the existing Sauber operation. Cadillac stands apart as the first entirely new Formula 1 team since Haas entered the championship in 2016.

How the team is being built

Cadillac’s operation will be headquartered in Fishers near Indianapolis, placing the project within the heart of American motorsport culture. According to Formula1.com, the team will also run a technical base near Silverstone in the United Kingdom, following a multi site structure similar to Haas and several other modern Formula 1 teams.

In parallel, General Motors is developing a power unit facility close to its technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina. While the team will not produce its own engine at launch, this site is intended to support Cadillac’s longer term ambition of becoming a full works manufacturer.

Leadership with Formula 1 experience

The team’s senior management is built around figures with extensive Formula 1 backgrounds. Graeme Lowdon, previously sporting director at Marussia, has been appointed team principal.

Nick Chester, who held senior technical roles at Renault, will serve as chief technical officer. He is joined by Pat Symonds as executive engineering consultant after a career spanning multiple eras of Formula 1. According to Formula1.com, the leadership group was assembled with a focus on operational stability during the team’s early seasons.

A conservative but proven driver strategy

Cadillac confirmed in August 2025 that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez would form its first driver lineup, both signing multi year contracts. According to Formula1.com, the pairing brings a combined total of 527 Grand Prix starts, 16 wins and 23 pole positions, offering the new team experience rather than long term development potential.

TWG Motorsports chief executive Dan Towriss explained the decision at the time, saying the priority was competitive stability during the team’s launch phase. He noted that creating opportunities for American drivers remains a longer term objective rather than an immediate requirement.

American IndyCar race winner Colton Herta has been signed as a test driver and is scheduled to compete in Formula 2 during the 2026 season as part of that pathway.

Engines today and independence tomorrow

Cadillac will begin life as a customer team, using Ferrari power units and gearboxes. According to Formula1.com, the current plan is for the team to develop its own engine by 2029, at which point it would transition into a full works operation.

Lowdon has been cautious when discussing performance expectations. Speaking earlier in 2025, he said success in the early years would be defined less by results and more by execution and credibility within the paddock.

Bottas echoed that view, acknowledging that the initial competitive baseline may be difficult while expressing confidence in the project’s long term prospects.

Why Cadillac’s entry could reshape Formula 1

Cadillac’s arrival goes beyond adding an extra team to the grid. It strengthens Formula 1’s American footprint, reinforces manufacturer involvement, and aligns with the championship’s broader commercial expansion in North America.

With General Motors backing, experienced leadership, and a clear long term roadmap, Cadillac enters Formula 1 not as a short term experiment, but as a strategic investment aimed at lasting influence in the sport’s next era.

Sources: Formula1.com

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