Cadillac in Formula One

Last updated

Flag of the United States.svg Cadillac-Ferrari
Cadillac logo BW.svg
Full nameCadillac Formula 1 Team [1]
Base
Team principal(s)
Technical director Nick Chester [4]
Noted staff
Formula One World Championship career
First entry 2026 (contracted)
Engines Ferrari
Cadillac as a Formula One engine manufacturer
Official name(s)GM Performance Power Units LLC
Base Concord, North Carolina, U.S. (2028–)
Notable staffRuss O'Blenes [7] (chief executive officer)
Formula One World Championship career
First entry 1952 Indianapolis 500
Last entry 1953 Indianapolis 500
Races entered2 (0 starts)
Chassis Kurtis Kraft
Race victories0
Podiums0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0

American car manufacturer General Motors (GM) is contracted to compete as a Formula One constructor under the Cadillac brand as Cadillac Formula 1 Team, beginning with the 2026 season, and is set to become a power unit manufacturer by the end of the 2020s. GM will collaborate with American racing organization Andretti Global through the latter's British subsidiary, GPM Cadillac Formula Racing Ltd.

Contents

Cadillac is set to become the first new constructor to join the grid since Haas in 2016. The project has three bases in the United States—in Indiana, North Carolina and Michigan—and one in the United Kingdom. The engine department will be based in North Carolina.

Background

In January 2023, General Motors (GM) announced their intention to enter the Cadillac brand into the Formula One World Championship in collaboration with Andretti Global. [8] The move was approved by the FIA but declined by the Formula One Group, [9] [10] which said that it would reconsider its decision if GM agreed to manufacture F1 engines. [11] Despite the rejection, Andretti continued to build up the team and operations using Toyota's wind tunnel in Cologne. [12] Andretti hired several alumni of Flavio Briatore's Renault / Team Enstone operation for senior roles, including Formula One CTO Pat Symonds, [6] technical director Nick Chester, aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson, and advisor Naoki Tokunaga. [4]

In November 2024, Los Angeles Dodgers lead owner and Chelsea F.C. co-owner Mark Walter announced that he had purchased Andretti through his holding company TWG Global. [3] [12] He retained Andretti minority owner Dan Towriss to serve as the CEO of TWG's motorsports division. [3] Michael Andretti remained as an advisor, [3] and Mario Andretti agreed to serve on the board of directors. [12] [1] To reflect the change, the team renamed its British subsidiary to Cadillac Formula Racing Ltd and subsequently GPM Cadillac Formula Racing Ltd. [13]

That same month, GM announced they would enter the championship as a constructor in 2026 under the Cadillac brand, and that GM would enter as an engine supplier at a later date. [14] By doing so, GM became F1's first new constructor since Haas in 2016. [15] GM paid an expansion fee of US$ 450 million, over twice as much as originally demanded. [16] [17] Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali stated that GM's commitment to the project was an "important and positive demonstration of the evolution of [the] sport". [14] In December, the team hired former Virgin and Marussia CEO Graeme Lowdon as team principal and Renault engine specialist Rob White as chief operations officer. [2] [5] Mario Andretti stated that the team planned to pair an experienced driver with a younger American driver, who will "most likely be [Andretti Global driver] Colton Herta." [18]

Power unit programme

GM and TWG established GM Performance Power Units LLC (GM PPU) to produce works engines for the Cadillac team, and hired longtime GM engine designer Russ O'Blenes to lead the engine division. [19] Cadillac anticipates that GM PPU will have an engine ready for the 2028 season. [7] In addition, Joe Saward reported that GM was seeking to purchase the intellectual property of Renault's former power unit programme. [20]

In December 2024, Ferrari announced that Cadillac had signed a multi-year deal to use their engines and gearboxes from 2026 onwards, until GM PPU develops an F1-ready power unit. [21]

Facilities

GM plans to operate four facilities for its F1 program. [1] The Cadillac racing team will operate from a facility in Silverstone, England, [22] [23] while GM will build a dedicated power unit facility near its Charlotte Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina. [19] In addition, the team's parent company, Andretti Global, is building a new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis; [3] the team initially announced that it would assemble the F1 cars at the Fishers facility, [24] but it was later reported that it planned to build the cars at a nearby site. [25] Additional operations will take place in Warren, Michigan, [1] the location of the General Motors Technical Center.

Involvement in the 1950s

Several GM marques participated in the Indianapolis 500 when it counted towards the Formula One World Championship from 1950 to 1960:

Complete Formula One World Championship results

As an engine supplier

YearEntrantChassisEngineTyreDriver123456789
1952 Calvin Connell Kurtis Kraft Cadillac 4.5 V8 F SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Fedricks DNQ
1953 Calvin Connell Kurtis Kraft Cadillac 4.5 V8 F ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Homeier DNQ

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "General Motors launches Cadillac Formula 1 Team and power unit". General Motors . November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Gale, Ewan (December 5, 2024). "GM announces Lowdon as Cadillac F1 team principal". Autosport . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Nathan. "Andretti Global parent company unveils longtime NASCAR executives as new leaders". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Andretti's hiring spree". Motor Sport Magazine. September 3, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Noble, Jonathan (November 25, 2024). "Andretti lands former Renault F1 engine tech chief Rob White". motorsport.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Andretti hires former F1 tech chief Symonds". ESPN. May 21, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Kalinauckas, Alex (January 9, 2025). "GM Performance Power Units company formed to build Cadillac's post-Ferrari F1 engines". Autosport . Motorsport Network . Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Andretti Global and General Motors Team Up in F1 Pursuit". Cadillac . January 5, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  9. ↑ Wolkin, Joseph (October 2, 2024). "Andretti Global Clears FIA Approval To Create A Formula 1 Team". Forbes . Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Andretti should buy existing F1 team to join grid - FIA boss". ESPN . May 28, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ Smith, Luke. "General Motors enters the grid: Why F1 changed its tune after rejecting Andretti". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Suttill, Josh (November 25, 2024). "GM, Cadillac agree deal for new 2026 F1 entry - Andretti absent". The Race. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ "GPM CADILLAC FORMULA RACING LIMITED overview". Companies House. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Statement on General Motors application to join FIA Formula One World Championship in 2026". Formula 1 . November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  15. ↑ Coleman, Madeline (November 25, 2024). "Formula 1 expands grid as General Motors to become the 11th team in 2026". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ Foster, Michelle (November 26, 2024). "Revealed: The eye-watering anti-dilution fee GM will pay to enter F1 2026". PlanetF1. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Collantine, Keith (January 17, 2025). "$450 million payment for Cadillac to join Formula 1 is too low - Wolff". RaceFans. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  18. ↑ Blackstock, Elizabeth (December 26, 2024). "Fresh Cadillac F1 hope for Mick Schumacher with 'think big' verdict". PlanetF1. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "TWG Motorsports and GM name Russ O'Blenes to lead Cadillac Formula 1 power units venture". General Motors. January 9, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  20. ↑ Lawrence, Dan (October 24, 2024). "Cadillac circling Renault F1 engine IP – report". Motorsport Week. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Ferrari enters a multi-year agreement with Andretti Formula Racing". Ferrari . Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  22. ↑ Saunders, Nate (November 25, 2024). "F1 agrees to GM joining grid for 2026 season". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  23. ↑ Moat, David (April 10, 2024). "Andretti Global Opens New Facility at Silverstone". Andretti Global. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  24. ↑ Cooper, Adam (January 31, 2024). "Andretti's plan to run an F1 team from four locations". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  25. ↑ Brown, Nathan. "Andretti Global seeking additional racing shop following F1 admission, sources say". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Chevrolet - Grands Prix not started • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  27. 1 2 "Cadillac - Indianapolis - Result by Grand Prix • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
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