Cadillac ‘thrilled’ with final F1 approval for 2026 season

The prospective Cadillac Formula 1 team received final approval on Friday from the sport, paving the way for the grid to increase by one team to 11 for the 2026 season.

After a lengthy process the Cadillac team received final approval, and the partnership between General Motors and TWG Motorsports, competing under the Cadillac brand, will join the F1 grid in 2026.

“We’re thrilled the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is official, as the team has been accelerating its work,” said GM President Mark Reuss in a statement from General Motors. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the FIA and Formula One Management leadership for us and for our collaboration with TWG. The excitement only grows as we get closer to showcasing GM’s engineering expertise on the prestigious global stage of F1.”

The statement also highlighted how the “integration between TWG Motorsports and GM creates a distinctly American team.”

“For the past year, we have worked hand in hand with GM to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary Formula 1 entry,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports. “Now, with 2026 in our sights after today’s final approval from the FIA and Formula One Management, we’re accelerating our efforts — expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies, and continuing to assemble top-tier talent.”

Cadillac will eventually become a works operation, producing their own power units for their F1 operation. The team previously confirmed that Graeme Lowdon will serve as their Team Principal, and Russ O’Blenes has been named as CEO of TWG GM Performance Power Units LLC, the new company tasked with manufacturing both F1 power units and chassis.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the effort put in by the entire Cadillac Formula 1 Team. This announcement is the next step in getting on the grid and continues our efforts towards building a full-works team. Through the long and thorough application process, we have never lost pace in our planning or our belief in the mission. We can’t wait to go racing and give fans a new team to cheer for,” Lowdon said on Friday in a statement.

“Ongoing preparation and development of our power unit continues, and we’ve been working hard to hire some top tier talent,” said O’Blenes. “As we continue to add more experienced engineering personnel, we look forward to running our first V6 in the near future.”

Cadillac will house their power unit operation at a factory in North Carolina. Until the team is ready to utilize their own power units, Cadillac will operate as a customer team for Ferrari, under an agreement reached last year.

One of the next big steps for F1’s newest team?

Picking a pair of drivers.

Expect that conversation to pick up as the 2025 F1 season begins next week with the Australian Grand Prix.