Cadillac to join Formula 1 grid as 11th team in 2026

General Motors (GM) has officially gained approval to join Formula 1 in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the US automotive giant.

The team will compete under the Cadillac brand, following a revised proposal that convinced F1 to greenlight its entry.

This decision follows months of negotiations and comes after an earlier bid involving Andretti Global was rejected. F1 was ultimately persuaded by GM’s stronger long-term commitment, leading to a joint approval from Formula 1 and motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, after thorough sporting, technical, and commercial evaluations.

The newly approved team will operate under TWG, a US-based organisation, in a restructured effort from the original Andretti-linked project. Dan Towriss, owner of Andretti Global, and Mark Walter of TWG are among the key investors.

The team will be headquartered in Silverstone, UK, aligning it with many existing F1 operations.

While former IndyCar and F1 driver Michael Andretti is no longer involved, his father, 1978 world champion Mario Andretti, will serve in an advisory role. Additionally, Graeme Lowdon, formerly with Manor Racing, has been appointed team principal, bringing extensive experience from his tenure in F1 between 2010 and 2016.

F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to F1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport.

“I want to thank GM and TWG for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for what will be another exciting year for Formula 1.”

Meanwhile, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the approval as “a transformative moment” for the sport.

BREAKING: Cadillac confirmed as 11th team on the 2026 F1 grid#F1 pic.twitter.com/V5eoWfQCYX

— Formula 1 (@F1) MARCH 7, 2025

Key Factors Behind GM’s Approval

The acceptance of GM’s entry was influenced by several major factors that distinguished it from the initial Andretti bid.

These included a long-term commitment to a full works team rather than relying on F1’s existing provisions. A confirmed engine supply agreement with Ferrari, eliminating concerns over compulsory engine allocation. GM’s commitment to developing its own engine for future seasons.

Additionally, a US Department of Justice investigation into F1’s initial rejection of Andretti’s bid was reportedly a factor in GM’s eventual acceptance.

General Motors’ entry aligns with a broader shift in F1’s landscape, driven by new power unit regulations set to debut in 2026.

These changes will increase the hybrid component of engines to approximately 50% (up from the current 20%) while mandating the use of fully sustainable fuels.

These regulations have played a key role in attracting other major manufacturers. Ford is partnering with Red Bull as the team develops its own power unit. Audi has acquired Sauber and will fully rebrand the team starting next year. Honda, initially planning to exit F1, has opted to stay and will become Aston Martin’s official engine supplier in 2026.

Meanwhile, Renault, which has long supplied its own power units, has decided that continued engine production is no longer financially viable. As a result, Alpine will switch to using Mercedes power units from 2025 onwards.