After years of politicking, America’s second F1 team is finally here. With a star-studded driver lineup and Ferrari power, can Cadillac hit the ground running?
For the first time since Haas joined in 2016, Formula 1 has a brand-new team on the grid. Cadillac’s arrival in 2026 marks a seismic shift for the sport, bringing the full weight of General Motors and a truly American operation to the world’s most prestigious racing series. But who is driving? Who is running the show? And most importantly—will they actually be competitive? Let’s break down everything you need to know about Cadillac’s F1 debut.
The Long Road to the Grid
Cadillac’s path to F1 was anything but smooth. Originally pitched as the Andretti Global entry with Michael Andretti at the helm, the bid faced fierce opposition from existing teams and Formula One Management (FOM) over concerns about profit dilution and competitiveness.
Initial Andretti-GM proposal rejected by FOM despite FIA approval.
Restructured bid under TWG Global with Michael Andretti eased out; commitment from General Motors to build future engines secures agreement in principle.
Final approval granted—Cadillac officially becomes the 11th team on the 2026 grid.
Striking black-and-white livery revealed during a Super Bowl commercial; car runs at Silverstone shakedown.
Graeme Lowdon, the experienced Team Principal leading Cadillac’s charge.
Who Owns Cadillac F1? The Money Behind the Team
Cadillac F1 operates under the corporate name TWG Cadillac Formula 1 Team LLC, with TWG Motorsports as the ownership group. TWG Motorsports is the racing arm of TWG Global, a holding company controlled by billionaire Mark Walter (co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Capital).
TWG Global’s sporting investments read like a who’s who of global sports: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea F.C., and various racing entities including Andretti Global’s IndyCar and Formula E operations, Spire Motorsports (NASCAR), and Wayne Taylor Racing.
Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports, serves as the team’s CEO and the public face of the ownership group.
The Leadership Dream Team
Cadillac has assembled an enviable lineup of F1 veterans to steer the ship.
Graeme Lowdon
Former sporting director at Marussia/Manor; brought on before entry was even approved.
Nick Chester
Ex-Renault technical director; decades of F1 experience.
Pat Symonds
Former F1 Chief Technical Officer; Benetton/Renault/Williams legend.
Rob White
Long-time Renault/Alpine operations director.
Marc Hynes
Lewis Hamilton’s long-time ally and manager; reunites with Lowdon.
Russ O’Blenes
Leading development of Cadillac’s in-house engine for 2029.
Additional key figures include John McQuilliam (Chief Designer), Jon Tomlinson (Head of Aerodynamics), and Naoki Tokunaga (Senior Strategic Advisor). Legendary 1978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti serves as a director and advisor.
The Driver Lineup: Experience First
Pérez and Bottas bring over 500 Grands Prix of experience to the new team.
Despite early speculation about an American driver, Cadillac chose the pragmatic path: experience above all else.
By the Numbers: Pérez & Bottas
🇲🇽 Sergio “Checo” Pérez
The most successful Mexican F1 driver in history, Pérez joins Cadillac after a stint with Red Bull where he finished runner-up in 2023. He brings not only racecraft but also crucial commercial ties to Mexico, a key market for General Motors. He’ll race with his familiar #11.
🇫🇮 Valtteri Bottas
The Finn, a ten-time Grand Prix winner and two-time championship runner-up with Mercedes, spent 2025 as a reserve driver. Known for his qualifying pace, technical feedback, and massive fan following, Bottas takes #77.
The Supporting Cast
Zhou Guanyu joins as reserve driver, reuniting with former Sauber teammate Bottas. American hope Colton Herta steps into a test driver role while racing in Formula 2 to build super license points—keeping the American driver dream alive for the future.
Key Sponsors: Blue-Chip Backing
Cadillac has secured major partnerships befitting a General Motors-backed operation.
The América Móvil partnership is particularly significant—the group has backed Pérez throughout his entire F1 career, bringing authenticity and deep commercial ties to the Mexican market.
Technical Partners & Power Unit Strategy
Cadillac’s technical approach is phased but ambitious:
- 2026-2028: Ferrari customer power units (joining Haas as Ferrari-powered teams)
- 2029 onward: Full works team with in-house Cadillac/GM power units developed by GM Performance Power Units LLC
Suspension specialist Öhlins (now part of Brembo) provides custom dampers, with development work beginning years ago—prototypes were produced in 2024.
Will Their Debut Be Promising?
This is the million-dollar question. History offers cautionary tales—Toyota spent eight seasons and a fortune without a single win. But Cadillac’s approach is different.
The Case for Optimism
- Experience everywhere: From the drivers to the technical staff, this isn’t a rookie outfit.
- Regulation reset: 2026 brings new chassis and power unit rules—a partial levelling of the playing field.
- Early progress: The car ran at Silverstone and completed 164 laps at the Barcelona test, more than some established teams managed.
- Manufacturer backing: Full OEM support with a clear pathway to works status.
Realistic Expectations
Team leadership has been candid: the first season is about learning, reliability, and building foundations, not podiums. Haas scored points on debut in 2016 but took years to become consistently competitive. Cadillac’s depth suggests they could match or exceed that trajectory.
Betting markets price Cadillac at around +20000 for the Constructors’ Championship—a reflection not of pessimism, but of the monumental challenge facing any new team. As Graeme Lowdon put it after Barcelona: “Bahrain will be much more focused on performance, trying to see how fast we can actually make the cars go”.
The Verdict: Patience Required, Promise Evident
Cadillac’s 2026 F1 entry is not a vanity project. With General Motors’ long-term commitment, a veteran driver lineup, and arguably the strongest off-track leadership of any new team in decades, the foundations are solid.
Will they win in year one? Almost certainly not. Will they be respectable, reliable, and building toward something bigger? All signs point to yes. In a sport where the learning curve is brutally steep, Cadillac has given itself the best possible chance to climb it.
The first real answers come at the Australian Grand Prix in March. Until then, the F1 world watches with genuine interest.
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