General Motors and Formula 1 have reached an agreement that will see GM/Cadillac joining as the 11th team on the F1 grid in 2026, with GM also launching an F1 power unit that will put the team on the path to becoming a “full works” team by the end of the decade.
Coming close to an announcement over the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, GM has now confirmed the Cadillac Formula 1 Team will be the 11th team to compete in the championship as the new regulations role in for 2026, making the team the first to join F1 since Haas in 2016.
GM’s bid to join the sport was first announced in January 2023, with Cadillac Formula 1 assembling an experienced workforce for aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software, and vehicle dynamics simulation across the nearly two years of negotiations.
“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence,” Mark Reuss, President of General Motors said.
“It’s an honour for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world.
“This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”
No stranger to the world of motorsport, GM has a successful history both on and off the track, accumulating over 3,000 wins and more than 100 driver and manufacturer motorsports championships.
In addition to its partnership with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, GM’s partner TWG Global owns Andretti Global, Wayne Taylor Racing, and Spire Motorsports.
"We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Global’s motorsport business said.
“Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.
“We appreciate the FIA and FOM’s support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship.”
The 1978 F1 World Champion - and the last American to win the championship - Mario Andretti has been named as a director on the team’s board, bringing him back to his “first love” after Andretti’s original bid was denied 10 months ago.
“My first love was Formula 1 and now – 70 years later – the F1 paddock is still my happy place,”,” said Andretti.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss.
“To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming."
The team currently operates out of multiple locations in the United States including Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; as well as in Silverstone, England.
From the voices at Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said:
“General Motors and Cadillac’s commitment to this project is an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport.
“We look forward to seeing the progress and growth of this application, certain of the full collaboration and support of all the parties involved.”
FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem also gave his support to the new project, vowing to work closely with GM to ensure the process runs “smoothly”.
“General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners,” he said.
“I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application to bring a GM/Cadillac branded team on the grid for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.
"All parties, including the FIA, will continue to work together to ensure the process progresses smoothly.”
The team poses a huge opportunity for the sport to continue expanding into the US market, with Liberty Media President and CEO, Greg Maffei excited about the American team’s prompt arrival on the grid.
“With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport,” Maffei said.
“We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1.
“We are excited to move forward with the application process for the GM/Cadillac team to enter the Championship in 2026.”
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