Formula 1 confirmed on Monday that General Motors will make its debut in the premier class in 2026. Under the brand name of its subsidiary Cadillac, the eleventh team is now a reality. This development is notable, especially since a previous collaboration between General Motors and Michael Andretti – son of former world champion Mario Andretti – was rejected. Andretti junior, who stepped away from the project in September, reacted to the news on social media.
“The Cadillac Formula 1 team consists of a group of strong individuals who have worked tirelessly to build an American factory team,” Michael Andretti wrote on social media on Monday. “I am incredibly proud of the hard work they have put into this and congratulate everyone involved on this memorable step. I’ll be cheering for you.” Despite the fact that Andretti is less involved in the project, the facilities and infrastructure he set up will still be used.
General Motors is now fully focused on its official debut. Although 2026 may seem far away, it is a crucial year due to the introduction of new regulations in Formula 1. Both the chassis and the engines will be subject to changes. For new teams without historical data, this poses an additional challenge. Therefore, General Motors will use an existing engine supplier for the first two seasons. From 2028, they will be on the grid with their own power source.
The big question is which engine supplier the newest Formula 1 team will use in the early years. Mercedes is known for collaborations with customer teams, but due to the future deal with Alpine, the brand has reached the maximum number of customers. Reportedly, General Motors is looking at Honda and Ferrari. Ferrari will lose a customer team in 2026 as Sauber switches to Audi. Honda has an exclusive agreement with Aston Martin, but could be open to an additional collaboration.
