On Friday, FOM and the FIA announced that Cadillac has officially been granted permission to join Formula 1. After a preliminary agreement was reached between Formula 1 and General Motors, the American parent company of Cadillac, in November, the project was given the final go-ahead on Friday. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali describes it as a ‘positive evolution’ of the sport, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is also delighted with this new milestone.
Although the deal between Cadillac and Formula 1 was already sealed in November, all formalities have now been completed. Therefore, an eleventh team will officially join the premier class in 2026. “As we said before, General Motors’ commitment to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 is an important and positive testament to the evolution of our sport,” Stefano Domenicali responded. “I want to thank General Motors for their constructive involvement over these months and I look forward to welcoming the team to the grid from 2026.”
“Today marks a transformative moment,” added FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “I am proud to lead this organization in this next step for the Formula 1 championship. The expansion to an eleventh team is a milestone for the sport. General Motors brings a fresh energy that aligns with the new regulations that herald an exciting new era for the sport in 2026. The presence of a Cadillac Formula 1 team in the paddock will inspire both participants and fans. Their participation underscores our mission to push the boundaries of motorsport.”
American Formula 1 Team
It is not surprising that an eleventh team is joining Formula 1 at this time. The sport has been on the rise in recent years, with an increasing number of international fans and a growing number of Grands Prix. Thanks in part to the Netflix series Drive to Survive, the championship has also become wildly popular in America. It was only a matter of time before the United States brought its own team to Formula 1. Of course, the Haas team has been racing under the American flag since its debut in 2016, although they are still heavily reliant on Italian Ferrari technology.
For its first two years in Formula 1, Cadillac will also use Ferrari power units. The Scuderia, which is losing a significant engine customer with the Sauber/Audi project, partnered with the Americans as early as December. The collaboration will last until 2027. After that, Cadillac will continue as a factory team, with its own powertrain manufactured by General Motors. A new division, GM Performance Power Units LLC, was already established in January.
