Things to know about Cadillac's arrival in Formula One
Cadillac’s entry into the 2026 Formula One World Championship represents one of the most significant structural developments the sport has seen in more than a decade. F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo delivers some key things to consider ahead of Cadillac's entry into the sport.
Joining Formula One with full OEM backing, the American team will compete under the corporate name TWG Cadillac Formula 1 Team LLC, while its official sporting name will be Cadillac Formula 1 Team.
Who will pilot the cars?Cadillac has chosen to anchor its debut with a driver lineup built on experience and proven racecraft. The American outfit confirmed last August that Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will return to the sport in 2026.
The Mexican driver will race under number 11, while the Finnish racer will compete under number 77. Both drivers sat out the 2025 season, yet they bring a combined total of 527 Grand Prix starts, 16 race victories, dozens of podium finishes, and more than 25 seasons of cumulative Formula One experience.
Their presence signals Cadillac’s intention to rely on experienced, technically knowledgeable drivers who can accelerate development during the team’s formative years.
Who will lead the team?The leadership structure behind Cadillac’s Formula One project blends established F1 expertise with American motorsport influence. Graeme Lowdon, formerly of Marussia and Manor, will serve as Team Principal, while Dan Towriss will take on the role of CEO. Pat Symonds, who previously served as Formula One’s Chief Technical Officer, will act as a senior technical advisor.
Cadillac has already begun assembling an experienced engineering group to support its drivers. Carlo Pasetti, formerly a performance engineer at Aston Martin, will serve as race engineer for Sergio Pérez, while John Howard, who previously worked at Alpine, will engineer Valtteri Bottas.
Where will Cadillac operate from?Cadillac’s operational footprint spans both sides of the Atlantic, with a UK headquarters located near the Silverstone circuit and additional facilities in Indianapolis and Charlotte.
This dual‑continent structure mirrors the hybrid engineering models used by several modern Formula One teams, but Cadillac’s deeper OEM integration suggests a more ambitious long‑term vision.
What engines will power Cadillac's F1 cars?Cadillac’s power unit strategy follows a phased approach designed to balance competitiveness with long‑term independence. The team will begin its Formula One journey using Ferrari customer power units for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons.
This arrangement allows Cadillac to enter the grid with a proven engine package while its in‑house power unit program continues to mature. From 2029 onward, Cadillac plans to race with a full General Motors works power unit, aligning its long‑term ambitions with the sport’s increasingly electrified hybrid regulations.
How does Cadillac's arrival impact the sport?Cadillac’s arrival expands the grid to 22 cars, the largest field since the early 2010s. The approval of the team’s entry follows a multi‑year process that began with the Andretti‑GM bid in 2023 and was later restructured under TWG Global before receiving final FIA approval in 2025.
Cadillac becomes the second American‑flagged team on the Formula One grid, joining Haas, but the scale of its OEM backing and its long‑term power unit commitment position it as a fundamentally different project. The team’s entry aligns with Formula One’s broader commercial expansion in the United States, which now hosts multiple races and continues to grow its fanbase.
