Cadillac maps path to 2026 F1 debut with local operations

Cadillac will represent American motorsport ambitions on the international stage with their entry into Formula One in 2026, supported by operations throughout the Midwest. The company, backed by General Motors (GM) and TWG Global, is preparing for its debut on the F1 grid next year, becoming the newest and thereby 11th team in the series, joining under new FIA regulations. This entry offers the possibility to infuse American innovation and heritage into one of the world’s most elite and technologically demanding racing categories.

The team will operate within a global infrastructure to support the complex logistics and development demands of Formula One. The US HQ is currently under construction in Fishers, Indiana, with other manufacturing facilities in Michigan and North Carolina, according to Reuters. These locations emphasize a distinctly local base for innovation in the notoriously technically demanding sport. Complementing these operations are a Silverstone facility in the UK, a historic motorsport hub where the team has established a European base. Here, Cadillac manages European logistics, and benefits from close collaboration with its established motorsport community and talent.

To manage the vast and complex project spanning multiple locations and timezones, the team reportedly gains inspiration from NASA projects of the past. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon told motorsport site The Race “I looked at… what I saw as difficult engineering tasks engineering tasks and, you know, there's few things more difficult than sticking a man on the moon”. This approach reflects the ambition and complexity behind the team’s efforts, with Lowdon acknowledging the steep challenge.

Cadillac will enter the sport initially using Ferrari engines while it develops its own power units through GM Performance Power Units LLC, a newly established entity focused on building a fully-fledged works engine by the end of the decade. Led by Russ O’Blenes, GM’s director of Motorsports Propulsion and Performance, this engine development effort will be based near GM's technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina, including a dedicated facility opening in 2026. Until then, leasing engines from Ferrari will allow the team to focus on other developmental challenges without compromising their debut timeline.

The team is preparing thoroughly to make their debut at pre-season testing in Barcelona in January 2026, as well as the Australian season opener in March. This involves scaling up the team, including with seasoned experts from established F1 teams to build a highly skilled workforce to support this ambitious project.

The team’s backing adds significant strength to the venture, underlining the efforts required to compete in Formula One. This backing should help the team with some of its most important recruitment needs, namely the drivers. Recent speculation has linked American IndyCar driver Colton Herta to the team, while former Mercedes F1 driver Valterri Bottas fueled his own speculation with this video.

This entry into Formula One should blend Midwest industrial might and innovation with a pragmatic, globally integrated operational model. By drawing on decades of motorsport heritage and pairing it with fresh leadership and strategic international bases, Cadillac aims to become a competitive presence in one of the world’s premier sports.