In January 2023, General Motors and Michael Andretti announced their intention to enter F1 under the Cadillac brand. Their entry finally received approval by F1 in March of 2025, and Cadillac announced that it would begin manufacturing F1 engines in 2029.
This new addition means there are now 11 teams and 22 drivers starting in 2026, which is up from the previous 10 teams and 20 drivers in 2025.
Their announcement brought lots of hype and speculation about their incoming driver lineup. In August of 2025, they announced their new driver lineup of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. This was a very strategic driver lineup since both drivers are highly experienced and successful in their careers. According to Sky Sports, Cadillac has 527 race starts, 16 wins, and 106 podiums combined. Bottas is very excited about his new project. He said, “From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded.”
Perez previously had an unfavorable time at his old team, Red Bull Racing. Now he feels ready for a new chapter, saying, “From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. It’s an honor to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front.”
During the Super Bowl, Cadillac revealed its double-sided livery during an ad. According to Cadillac’s CEO, Dan Towriss, “Choosing to reveal our first race livery during the Super Bowl and in the heart of Times Square is a way to introduce our identity to the world at the intersection of performance, culture, and entertainment, and to connect with fans in places far beyond the paddock.” This represents their goal not just to perform well but also to become a cultural icon.
During F1 testing in Bahrain, Cadillac did more than 100 laps each day. However, through these laps, a few issues have been revealed. According to ESPN, as of testing day four, Cadillac has the slowest fastest lap out of 11 teams. However, newer teams have always had mixed success in F1, which is why Cadillac is making sure it keeps realistic expectations. Lowden, the team boss of Cadillac, has shared how he feels “squeezed” after their testing experience. However, he sends his gratuity to Checo and Bottas since they’re providing accurate and valuable feedback, which is helping the team improve the car after every lap.
Especially with new regulations that drastically change the cars for all teams, many are facing challenges. According to Motorsport, the four-time champion Max Verstappen shared how he believes that the new regulations are “anti-racing” and how the cars resemble those of Formula E. Although Checo and Bottas are experienced, these cars are very different for all drivers, and drivers are having challenges adapting to new regulations, which has the potential to be beneficial to Cadillac.
Above all, Cadillac’s entry into the grid is sure to give racing fans a thrill and optimism for this upcoming season.
