Cadillac receive final approval to join Formula 1 grid in 2026 as 11th team

It has been confirmed that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team have received final approval to join the sport, with the team – who are backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors (GM) – set to be part of the F1 grid in 2026.

Today, the FIA and Formula One Management announced that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team have met their requirements to join the existing 10 teams starting next year.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “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.

«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.”

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship. The FIA Formula One Championship’s expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport.

“The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s presence in the paddock will inspire future competitors and fans. Their entry strengthens our mission to push motorsport’s boundaries at the highest level.”

Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports, said: «For the past year, we have worked hand in hand with GM, to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary Formula 1 entry.

“Now, with 2026 in our sights after today’s final approval from the FIA and Formula One Management, we’re accelerating our efforts—expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies, and continuing to assemble top-tier talent.”

GM President Mark Reuss commented: “We’re thrilled the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is official, as the team has been accelerating its work.

“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.”

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 23: George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas — The Cadillac F1 team will join the grid in 2026

The announcement comes after appointments were confirmed across recent months, including former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon joining as Team Principal and industry veteran Russ O’Blenes becoming CEO of TWG GM Performance Power Units, which will contribute towards Cadillac becoming a “full works” team by the end of the decade.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the effort put in thus far by the entire Cadillac Formula 1 team,» said Lowdon. «This announcement is the next step in getting on the grid and continued work toward building a full-works team.

«Through the long and thorough application process, we never lost pace in planning or belief in our mission. We can’t wait to go racing and give fans a new team to cheer for.»

O’Blenes added: “Ongoing preparation and development of our power unit continues, and we’ve been working hard to hire some top tier talent. As we continue to add more experienced engineering personnel, we look forward to running our first V6 in the near future.”

The Cadillac outfit – which has bases in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England – have assembled a team of over 200 people working on aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software and vehicle dynamics simulation since the squad’s bid to enter Formula 1 was announced, with development work continuing at pace ahead of joining the grid in 2026.