Cadillac Joins Formula 1 Grid as 11th Team for 2026 Season

Cadillac will make its Formula 1 debut in 2026 as the sport's 11th team, marking a significant expansion of the grid alongside the introduction of new technical regulations. Backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors, the American outfit represents a major new entry from the United States.

Experienced Driver Lineup

Cadillac has opted for experience in its driver lineup, recruiting two veteran drivers who both spent 2025 on the sidelines. The team will feature:

• Valtteri Bottas (#77): The Finnish driver returns to the grid after acting as a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2025. With 10 Grand Prix wins, 67 podiums, 1797 points, and 246 starts to his name, Bottas brings significant experience from his time at Mercedes between 2017 and 2021.
• Sergio Perez (#11): The Mexican driver makes his comeback after parting ways with Red Bull following the 2024 season. With 6 Grand Prix wins, 39 podiums, 1638 points, and 281 starts, Perez brings considerable race experience, including a career-best P2 finish in the 2023 championship.

Together, the driver pairing boasts a remarkable 527 Grand Prix starts between them, providing Cadillac with one of the most experienced lineups on the grid.

Preparation Throughout 2025

While Cadillac wasn't on the grid in 2025, the team was busy preparing for its debut season. The entry received final approval in March 2025, with several key milestones following:

• August 2025: Confirmation of the driver lineup featuring Bottas and Perez after much speculation
• Additional signings: Former IndyCar racer Colton Herta joined as test driver, while Pietro Fittipaldi was named development driver in October
• Simulator team: Simon Pagenaud and Charlie Eastwood added as simulator drivers
• Reserve driver: Zhou Guanyu signed as reserve driver in January 2026
• Livery reveal: Planned for Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, during a television advert

Cadillac's Motorsport Heritage

While new to Formula 1, Cadillac brings extensive motorsport heritage from its participation in various racing series:

• Established in 1902 as a division of General Motors (GM)
• Participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as far back as the 1950s
• Returned to Le Mans in the early 2000s with the Northstar LMP cars (2000-2002)
• Multiple championships in World Challenge GT Championship, Pirelli World Challenge GT class, and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
• Recent participation in the World Endurance Championship

Team Leadership and Realistic Expectations

Team Principal Graeme Lowdon brings experience from heading the Marussia/Manor outfit when they first arrived in Formula 1. Lowdon has emphasized building a team with "emphasis on experience and driver experience."

Despite the experienced lineup, team members have maintained realistic expectations for their debut season. Valtteri Bottas acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, stating that the squad "need to be realistic" and "mentally prepare for the worst" at the start. However, he added optimistically that "the sky's the limit" for the team in the long run.

Lowdon echoed this sentiment in a recent statement: "We're racing against teams where the youngest team on the grid has still a decade of Formula 1 racing experience or so, so I think that should set some expectation. But what we want to do is execute the things that we can control as well as we possibly can and measure ourselves against that."

He continued: "And if we do that, we know that over time, we will build what we all want, which is a very competitive Formula 1 team. But to coin the American phrase, it's not our first rodeo for anyone involved, and so we have a huge respect for the task ahead."

The team's approach focuses on what they can control, with Lowdon emphasizing: "It's super, super difficult, but we focus on what we can control and what we can do. Work as hard as we can and, the harder we work, hopefully the more competitive we become."

Looking Ahead to 2026

As Cadillac prepares for its Formula 1 debut, the team represents a significant American presence in the sport's growing global footprint. With experienced drivers, a heritage-rich automotive brand, and a measured approach to expectations, Cadillac enters Formula 1 with both ambition and pragmatism.

The team's first competitive appearance will come when the 2026 season begins, marking a new chapter for both Cadillac and Formula 1 as the sport welcomes its 11th team to the grid.