--- title: "After Years of Drama, Cadillac Will Definitely Race in F1 in 2026" date: "2025-03-07" modified: "2025-03-07" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/after-years-of-drama-cadillac-will-definitely-race-in-f1-in-2026" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # After Years of Drama, Cadillac Will Definitely Race in F1 in 2026 ![]() *GM* The Cadillac [Formula 1]() [team]() has officially been confirmed. Officials just announced that Cadillac received the final approval it needed, and its team—backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors—will be going racin' come 2026. “As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport," [said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali](). "I want to thank GM and TWG Motorsports 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.” This has been a long time coming, and sadly, it's involved lots of drama between GM, Michael Andretti, and [Formula 1](). We've been huge supporters of this project since the very beginning, covering every move between the various parties involved. And at times, it truly felt like it was just not going to materialize due to some petty characters. Between Andretti-Cadillac's initial proposal being rejected, the beef between former Liberty Media Greg Maffei and the Andretti family, and Michael eventually stepping down from his own company, getting the final approval from all levels of the sport is an enormous relief. > 🚨🚨 > Cadillac are Officially on the F1 grid from 2026!🏎️ > The team have been fully approved and will be the 11th team on the grid in 12 months time! > This account is going to be your main source for all news regarding the team🫡 > Drop us a follow while your here👀… [pic.twitter.com/GJw1eyXgBT]() > — Cadillac F1 Team News (@CadillacF1\_) [March 7, 2025]() “We’re thrilled the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is official, as the team has been accelerating its work," said Reuss. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the FIA and Formula One Management leadership for us and for our partners at TWG. The excitement only grows as we get closer to showcasing GM’s engineering expertise on the prestigious global stage of F1.” Cadillac F1's team principal will be Graeme Lowdon, the former Sporting Director of Marussia F1, and its cars will initially be powered by Ferrari engines. However, the newly created TWG GM Performance Power Units will develop F1 V6 engines for its own cars, [making Cadillac a full works team ]()by 2030. It will be fun to see what Mercedes-AMG team boss [Toto Wolff]() has to say, as he's been strongly against the Americans becoming the sport's 11th team from the beginning. Even after Cadillac agreed to pay a $450 million anti-dilution fee to prevent an additional team thinning winnings profits spread among all teams, Wolff felt it wasn't enough. “The compensation fee, which is currently set at $450 million, is too low. It does not make up for the direct loss in income,” he told German outlet *Sport Auto* in January, as reported by *[Planet F1.]()* Regardless of how team principals feel about it, Cadillac will officially be in the big show in 2026. The team has over 200 people working on its chassis, aerodynamics, software, and vehicle dynamics in facilities in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England. The only question now is, who will be driving its F1 cars? *Go tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()