Cadillac’s Formula 1 dream is now reality—the team, backed by General Motors (GM) and TWG Motorsports, has secured final approval to join the grid in 2026, swelling the field to 11 teams.
The FIA and Formula One Management confirmed Friday that Cadillac met all requirements, greenlighting their entry for next year’s championship, just days before the 2025 season kicks off.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali hailed the move: “As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport. I want to thank GM and TWG Motorsports for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for what will be another exciting year for Formula 1.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed the sentiment: “Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship. The FIA Formula One Championship’s expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s presence in the paddock will inspire future competitors and fans. Their entry strengthens our mission to push motorsport’s boundaries at the highest level.”
TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss outlined their grind: “For the past year, we have worked hand in hand with GM, to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary Formula 1 entry. Now, with 2026 in our sights after today’s final approval from the FIA and Formula One Management, we’re accelerating our efforts—expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies, and continuing to assemble top-tier talent.”
GM President Mark Reuss fueled the hype: “We’re thrilled the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is official, as the team has been accelerating its work. We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the FIA and Formula One Management leadership for us and for our partners at TWG. The excitement only grows as we get closer to showcasing GM’s engineering expertise on the prestigious global stage of F1.”
Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, ex-Marussia chief, took the helm last year: “I couldn’t be prouder of the effort put in thus far by the entire Cadillac Formula 1 team. This announcement is the next step in getting on the grid and continued work toward building a full-works team. Through the long and thorough application process, we never lost pace in planning or belief in our mission. We can’t wait to go racing and give fans a new team to cheer for.”
Russ O’Blenes, CEO of TWG GM Performance Power Units, added: “Ongoing preparation and development of our power unit continues, and we’ve been working hard to hire some top tier talent. As we continue to add more experienced engineering personnel, we look forward to running our first V6 in the near future.”
Cadillac’s squad—over 200 strong—spans Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England, hammering aerodynamics, chassis, and sims. They’ll run Ferrari engines short-term, with GM aiming for in-house V6s by decade’s end from a new Charlotte hub.
The bid flipped from Andretti-led resistance to GM’s full-throttle push, easing F1’s stance. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who probed the initial rejection, said: “Last year, we took a stand when F1 sought to exclude General Motors/Cadillac from the F1 championship series despite meeting all technical and financial requirements to field a team. I am glad that F1 has reversed course and finally allowed an all-American team to compete. This is a win for competition, American manufacturing, and F1 fans.”
Drivers? Colton Herta’s in the mix, but Sergio Pérez and Daniel Ricciardo loom as free-agent wildcards. Cadillac’s ready to roll.
