Cadillac Formula 1 Team is set to enter the championship as the 11th team in 2026, following approval in March 2025 after an initial rejected bid with Andretti Global. With drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, the team focuses on progress and earning respect rather than immediate results. Pre-season testing revealed areas for improvement, amid concerns over costs and driver readiness.
Cadillac's journey to Formula 1 began with a prolonged effort, starting with a rejected application alongside Andretti Global, which Formula One Management deemed insufficient for the series. Tensions arose with Michael Andretti's campaigning, leading to his withdrawal and a revised bid led by Dan Towriss's TWG group, ultimately gaining approval in March 2025 for a 2026 entry under the General Motors brand.
Pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain highlighted the challenges ahead. The team's car lacks general downforce compared to established rivals, and testing sessions were marred by problems similar to those faced by Aston Martin, limiting running time. Despite this, the car was reported to be just three-tenths of a second off the pace in Bahrain, providing some optimism.
Team principal Graeme Lowdon emphasized the difficulty of the sport, stating, “It’s quite a challenge to come in and expect to beat people.” Engineering consultant Pat Symonds outlined an aggressive development program within the budget cap, noting, “Even in Melbourne you'll see a car that's reasonably different to this one in many areas.” Success for 2026, according to drivers and team leaders, lies in clear progress, improved reliability, and faster lap times rather than points, which could come through luck as seen in Haas's 29-point debut year.
Valtteri Bottas defined success as “seeing that progress, making the car faster, making the car more reliable, becoming better as a team.” Sergio Perez stressed outdeveloping rivals ahead. However, former driver David Coulthard raised concerns about Perez's year off after 2024, suggesting Bottas, who served as Mercedes reserve, is better prepared due to recent simulator work.
Off-track, Cadillac has invested heavily, with pundit Will Buxton estimating $1 billion spent already without a title sponsor. Operations span bases in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, United Kingdom, potentially creating logistical pressures from differing work cultures. The team aims for independence by 2029 with in-house power units, choosing to develop components like rear suspension rather than relying fully on Ferrari parts.
Recent tire testing at Pirelli's Milan lab, led by Heather Bobbitt, validated virtual models in a high-stakes eight-hour session. Pirelli's Mario Isola noted the pressure, while Bobbitt questioned correlation between simulations and reality. Lowdon praised the team's calm professionalism, observed during Silverstone shakedown, as a foundation for building respect among competitors, who initially opposed the expansion over revenue fears.
