Cadillac F1 Debut Australia
Cadillac is making its Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix, marking a new chapter for American teams in F1. The entry is described as a "long-shot American dream" realized on the world stage.
The journey to the starting grid was a multi-year effort initially spearheaded by Michael Andretti of Andretti Global. After facing an initial rejection from Formula 1, the bid was restructured, with General Motors and its Cadillac brand taking a more prominent role alongside TWG Motorsports, led by CEO Dan Towriss. This revised application eventually gained the crucial approval to become the sport's 11th team. The team is led by Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, who has previous experience launching a new F1 team with Virgin Racing in 2010. The leadership also includes CEO Dan Towriss and COO Rob White, with former F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds serving as a consultant. While Michael Andretti stepped back from the forefront, his father, 1978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti, remains involved as an advisor and director. For its debut season, Cadillac has signed an experienced driver lineup featuring Sergio "Checo" Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, who bring a combined 26 years of F1 experience. The team's reserve driver is Zhou Guanyu, with American IndyCar driver Colton Herta signed as a test driver. Herta is slated to compete in Formula 2 in 2026 to further his development. Initially, the team will use Ferrari power units for its cars. General Motors is concurrently developing its own F1 power unit, with the goal of debuting it in the 2029 season. The team operates from multiple bases, including facilities in Fishers, Indiana; Concord, North Carolina; and Warren, Michigan, in the United States. It also has a key European base in Silverstone, England, a hub for many F1 teams. The entry marks the first new constructor to join the Formula 1 grid since the Haas team, also an American entry, debuted in 2016. The team's first chassis is designated the MAC-26, a name honoring Mario Andretti.
