Cadillac F1: The Story of America’s New Formula 1 Team

Formula 1 entered a new chapter in 2026 with the arrival of Cadillac Formula 1 Team, expanding the grid to 11 teams and bringing another major American automotive name into the championship. Backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, Cadillac made its official F1 debut as the sport’s newest constructor.

For Cadillac, Formula 1 represents more than simply entering another racing series. It is the beginning of a long-term project combining American automotive heritage, experienced Formula 1 personnel, established drivers and a future in-house power unit.

From American Automotive Heritage to Formula 1

Cadillac is one of the most recognizable names in American automotive history. Founded in 1902 as part of the General Motors family, the brand has developed a strong reputation for luxury and engineering.

Its motorsport history also extends beyond Formula 1. Cadillac has competed in major endurance and sports-car championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and World Endurance Championship.

In November 2024, Formula 1 announced an agreement in principle with General Motors to support the arrival of a GM/Cadillac team. Final approval followed in March 2025, setting the project on course for its 2026 debut.

Cadillac’s 2026 F1 Debut

Cadillac became the 11th team on the 2026 Formula 1 grid, making it the first new F1 team since Haas joined in 2016.

The team operates from its base in Silverstone, United Kingdom, with its 2026 Formula 1 car known as the MAC-26. The team currently uses a Ferrari power unit and gearbox while General Motors develops its own future F1 power-unit programme.

This makes the first Cadillac season an important development period: building infrastructure, gathering data and establishing the technical foundation required for the years ahead.

Valtteri Bottas: Experience Behind the Wheel

Cadillac selected Valtteri Bottas as one of its two race drivers for its debut season.

The Finnish driver returned to a full-time F1 seat in 2026 after spending 2025 as a Mercedes reserve driver. Before that, Bottas raced for Mercedes from 2017 through 2021 and achieved 10 Grand Prix victories during that period.

Bottas brings extensive Formula 1 experience to a completely new project. His knowledge of race operations, technical development and working inside a major F1 organisation gives Cadillac an experienced reference point as the team develops the MAC-26.

His 2026 car carries the number 77.

Sergio Perez: A Proven Race Winner

Joining Bottas is Mexican driver Sergio Perez, another highly experienced Formula 1 competitor.

Perez returned to the grid with Cadillac in 2026 after leaving Red Bull at the end of 2024. Before joining Cadillac, he had accumulated six Grand Prix victories and 39 podium finishes, while achieving a career-best second-place finish in the 2023 Drivers' Championship.

Perez's experience across multiple F1 teams makes him an important part of Cadillac's first-generation driver line-up.

His Cadillac race car carries the number 11.

Cadillac’s Technical Foundation

Creating a Formula 1 team from scratch is a major engineering challenge. Cadillac has been developing its organisation across several locations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The current MAC-26 uses Ferrari power in its debut season, while General Motors works toward its own Cadillac power unit. Current plans point toward an in-house Cadillac power unit project with 2029 remaining the focus for its introduction.

The team has also continued strengthening its technical organisation. In 2026, Marcin Budkowski replaced Graeme Lowdon as Team Principal, and Cadillac announced additional technical leadership appointments involving personnel from Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.

The 2026 Learning Curve

Cadillac's first season has demonstrated the difficulty of entering Formula 1 from scratch.

As of the latest 2026 Formula 1 standings available on September 26, Cadillac sits 11th in the Constructors' Championship with 0 points. Bottas and Perez also have 0 points in the Drivers' Championship.

The team's recorded best Grand Prix finish so far is P13, achieved by Bottas in China.

The opening season has nevertheless provided Cadillac with valuable track data and experience. The team has worked on reliability, braking, chassis performance and development while introducing upgrades throughout the campaign.

A New Era for American F1 Racing

Cadillac's arrival adds another dimension to Formula 1's growing American presence.

With General Motors behind the project, experienced drivers in Bottas and Perez, Ferrari power during the initial phase and an eventual Cadillac power unit programme planned, the team is being developed as a long-term Formula 1 operation rather than a short-term entry.

The 2026 season is therefore the opening chapter of the Cadillac F1 story.

From its American automotive heritage to the technology of the MAC-26, Cadillac is now building its identity on one of motorsport's biggest stages.

Cadillac-Inspired Motorsport Racewear

For fans who connect with Cadillac's bold American identity and modern F1 design, Cadillac-inspired motorsport racewear offers a way to bring that racing atmosphere into your own collection.

Our motorsport apparel is designed around the visual language of modern Formula 1: performance-inspired graphics, racing details, driver-number styling and a strong Cadillac-inspired color palette.

Whether you're looking for a Cadillac-inspired racing suit, F1-style racewear, motorsport jacket or racing apparel, these designs are made for fans who appreciate the combination of automotive heritage and modern racing culture.

Explore the Cadillac-inspired motorsport collection and bring the spirit of America's newest F1 team to your racewear collection.

Final Lap

Cadillac's Formula 1 journey is only beginning. The 2026 season has introduced the team, its MAC-26, its experienced driver pairing and its developing technical organisation to the world championship.

The next chapters will be about development, engineering, reliability and the gradual transformation of Cadillac from a new F1 entrant into an established constructor.

The Cadillac F1 story has officially begun.