Building on successful pre-season testing, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team has arrived in Melbourne for its historic debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. The squad, evolving from the Andretti bid and backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, will introduce its first upgrades to the MAC-26 car. Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are set to make history in the season opener.
The Cadillac Formula 1 Team, the first new entrant since Haas in 2016 after paying a $200 million anti-dilution fee, touches down in Melbourne following comprehensive pre-season work. Originating from the Andretti family's rejected bid, the project secured approval under TWG Motorsports—led by Mark Walter and Dan Towriss—and General Motors ownership.
Key milestones included a January shakedown at Silverstone, where minor issues like missing parts were swiftly resolved via 3D printing, plus extensive testing in Barcelona (164 laps reported earlier) and Bahrain. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon announced first upgrades for the MAC-26—named for 1978 champion Mario Andretti—ahead of the event.
The team will run Ferrari engines for two seasons while developing its own power unit near Hendrick Motorsports in Charlotte, North Carolina. Operations span headquarters near Silverstone, UK, and Fishers, Indiana.
Lowdon called the debut 'one of the proudest moments of my career,' highlighting long-term goals. CEO Dan Towriss reflected on perseverance: 'We ran into a lot of obstacles, a lot of voices telling us not just ‘no,’ but ‘never.’' GM President Mark Reuss described it as the 'realization of a vision' to boost Cadillac's global luxury image.
Bottas shared: 'This year’s Australian Grand Prix feels like no other... I can’t wait to go racing.' Perez added: 'It is an honour to be in Australia this weekend, making history with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team.'
Positioning as America's bold entrant—with branding inspired by Towriss's wife Cassidy—the team eyes a gritty identity distinct from rivals.