General Motors (GM) has officially announced its commitment to entering Formula 1 in 2026, partnering with the U.S. group TWG Global. The new team will carry the name of GM’s luxury Cadillac brand, marking a significant move into high-profile motorsport. The company plans to build its own engine at a later date, but for the time being, will likely source a customer engine to fill the gap.
Formula 1 has confirmed that the application process for the Cadillac team is progressing smoothly. Greg Maffei, President and CEO of F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media, welcomed the news, highlighting the growing importance of the U.S. market for the sport. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the U.S., we believe that an impressive U.S. brand like GM/Cadillac entering the grid, along with GM as a future power unit supplier, will bring added value to the sport,” Maffei said. “We are excited to move forward with the application process.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also voiced his support, praising GM as a global powerhouse in the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) world. “General Motors, along with their impressive partners, has made significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1,” said Ben Sulayem. “I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM, and the team to bring a GM/Cadillac branded team onto the grid for the 2026 season.”
To secure its place on the grid, GM and TWG Global will pay an anti-dilution fee of $450 million (£358 million). This fee will be split among the existing 10 teams to compensate for their reduced share of F1’s prize money, as the income will now be distributed 11 ways. The fee exceeds the standard $200 million set by current F1 rules, as teams will negotiate new contracts for the 2026 season.
Although the Cadillac team does not expect its engine to be ready until 2028, it will initially source an engine from one of the existing suppliers. The leading candidate for this deal is Ferrari, which will have spare engines available due to Sauber’s transition to Audi, which is building its own engine.
This move revises the previous Andretti bid, which F1 rejected in January. The Andretti project had partnered with Cadillac, but F1 did not believe it would add enough value to the sport. This new proposal, however, involves GM entering as a team owner, and many view this move more favorably.
The team will be a joint venture between GM and TWG, with Andretti Global’s Dan Towriss and TWG’s Mark Walter among the key investors. Michael Andretti, who previously led Andretti Global, has stepped down from the project, with Mario Andretti, the 1978 Formula 1 world champion, taking on an advisory role.
The Cadillac team will add to the growing list of car manufacturers involved in F1. In addition to Mercedes, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, and Audi, GM’s entry will increase the number of engine suppliers to six. The new regulations for 2026, which place a greater emphasis on hybrid technology, have attracted several new entrants, including Ford, Audi, and Honda, all of which are returning to the sport.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown expressed enthusiasm for the new development: “Exciting times ahead with Cadillac joining the Formula 1 grid as the 11th team in 2026. Their rich history in automotive innovation will undoubtedly add a new dimension to the sport.”
As GM prepares to make its mark in F1, the sport looks set to enter a new era, with increased competition and fresh innovations on the horizon.
Leave a Reply