Ford and its fierce crosstown rival, GM, will take their battle to the Formula One World Championship in 2026. The General has been formally approved for competition, bringing its luxury brand, Cadillac, to the F1 grid in just over one year’s time.
Cadillac, which partnered with TWG Global to make the team a reality, has already compiled an elite team to handle aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software, and vehicle dynamics simulation. The organization currently operates out of Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England. Mario Andretti, F1 legend and last American champion in the series, will serve as director on the team’s board.
“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world,” said GM President Mark Reuss in a statement. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”
While GM will begin F1 competition in 2026, the automaker will not begin building power units until 2028. The Cadillac F1 team will have to source power units from a third party until then.
“We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Global’s motorsports businesses. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world. We appreciate FIA and FOM’s support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship.’’
Ford, meanwhile, will be a “full works” team right out of the gate. The automaker will begin building power units for Red Bull Racing (RBR) in 2026, and The Blue Oval itself has had a big hand in helping the motorsports team develop its engines.
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