Cadillac hits key F1 milestone for 2026 debut

American manufacturer ramps up technical development and driver selection amid tight timeline for 2026 grid entry

Cadillac's Formula 1 team has shifted into high gear. Following their official entry confirmation on March 7, the American manufacturer unveiled its team logo at a glamorous Miami event attended by management, potential sponsors and VIPs.

Behind the glitzy presentation lies a project racing against time. The team has already completed initial crash tests with a prototype chassis while simultaneously establishing both engineering operations and recruitment pipelines.

The newly-confirmed entry caps a tumultuous two-year journey since Andretti Global's original application.

The process eventually required involvement from the US Congress before gaining approval, forcing financial backers Mark Walter and Dan Towriss to fund the team's Silverstone facility development during months of uncertainty.

Technical partnerships take shape

To accelerate development, Cadillac has secured several critical partnerships. Ferrari will supply not only power units but also gearboxes and rear suspension components.

The team has begun aerodynamic development in Toyota's Cologne wind tunnel.

Persistent rumors suggest a potential Dallara collaboration for chassis construction. Sources within the paddock confirm the team has produced a crash test chassis, which reportedly passed regulatory requirements despite exceeding target weight parameters – a challenge all teams face with the aggressive 2026 weight limits.

Staffing and recruitment

The organizational structure calls for approximately 600 employees, with roughly half already working under technical director Nick Chester. The remaining positions await individuals currently serving gardening leave from competing teams.

The team's Silverstone base will handle primary engineering operations while maintaining American ties through General Motors' broader involvement.

Power unit progress

Parallel to chassis development, GM has launched its power unit program slated for 2029 debut.

This work is concentrated at GM's motorsport headquarters in Charlotte, where engineers have created a single-cylinder test unit – the first step toward a complete V6 engine expected by September.

After months of cautious development due to regulatory uncertainty, the project has gained momentum.

The team recently placed a substantial order for specialized test benches from Austrian firm AVL, signaling commitment to in-house engine development.

Financial regulations will constrain power unit development to $210 million over the first three years, aligning with other manufacturers once track operations begin.

Driver market exploration

Though not the most pressing concern, driver selection discussions have commenced with a clear preference for experienced competitors over rookies.

This strategy appears to have eliminated initial candidate Colton Herta, whose super license eligibility remains undetermined until the IndyCar season concludes in late August.

Miami paddock rumors linked Sergio Perez to the team, though he didn't attend Saturday's launch event where Mick Schumacher made an appearance.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon's shortlist reportedly includes Perez alongside Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, and Felipe Drugovich – the latter considered despite lacking grand prix experience thanks to his reserve role knowledge at Aston Martin.

Technical challenges ahead

The team faces significant challenges meeting the 2026 technical regulations while building organizational structure from the ground up.

Their Ferrari technical partnership provides crucial stability, though achieving competitive performance in their debut season will require flawless execution across all development areas.

With major investment secured and technical partnerships established, Cadillac's focus now shifts to optimizing their development timeline while finalizing key personnel and driver appointments ahead of their 2026 grid debut.