--- title: "Classy: Cadillac F1 Honors Mario Andretti With Chassis Codename" date: "2026-02-27" modified: "2026-02-27" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/classy-cadillac-f1-honors-mario-andretti-with-chassis-codename" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Classy: Cadillac F1 Honors Mario Andretti With Chassis Codename ![]() *\Cadillac F1\* The Cadillac [Formula 1]() Team will race its maiden Grand Prix next weekend, but before it sets up shop in Australia, it revealed the codename for its first-ever chassis: the MAC-26. The designation stands for Mario Andretti Cadillac 2026, and it honors the 1978 F1 World Champion. The tribute isn't just because of Andretti's accomplishments on the track, of course. Mario is one of several Andrettis who fought tooth and nail to get what was referred to as the Andretti Cadillac into the F1 World Championship. In a multi-year odyssey that packed as much drama as a primetime telenovela, the Andretti family was [snubbed and given the runaround by former Liberty Media executive Greg Maffei](), despite having one of the world's largest automakers, truckloads of money, and even the FIA on their side. Honoring him with the chassis designation isn't just a classy move; it's 100% the right thing to do. ![BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 20: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Cadillac F1 Team Ferrari on track during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 20, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)]() **Rudy Carezzevoli via Getty** "Racing has been the joy of my life. It is the ultimate compliment that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honor," said Andretti. "I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting bond with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history.” Dan Towriss, who serves as the team's CEO and also heads Andretti Global, has been instrumental in making the Andrettis' vision a reality. Much like Mario, if it weren't for him, the Cadillac F1 Team simply wouldn't exist. It's great to also see him embody the Andretti spirit and spread it across the organization and its fans. "Naming our first chassis MAC-26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula 1 and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage," said Towriss. "His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day." *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()