After years of speculation, Formula 1 has given General Motors the green light to join the grid for the 2026 season, marking a significant moment for both the sport and American motorsport. The Cadillac Formula 1 team will debut as the 11th entrant, a landmark achievement as the first purpose-built F1 team from a major American manufacturer.

General Motors (GM) has committed to developing its own F1 power unit by the close of the decade. However, for its inaugural seasons, it will rely on a powertrain supplied by an existing team. While GM is tight-lipped about who might step in, Ferrari and Honda are emerging as likely contenders in the rumor mill.

Initially pitched as the Andretti-Cadillac team, the venture has undergone some strategic reshuffling. Michael Andretti appears to have taken a step back from his role as CEO of Andretti Global to smooth Cadillac’s path into Formula 1, with Dan Towriss now steering Andretti Global as CEO. Curiously, an official F1 statement on GM’s entry makes no reference to Andretti, instead quoting Towriss as heading “TWG Global’s motorsport business.” Still, Cadillac has confirmed Mario Andretti - America’s last Formula 1 World Champion, will sit on the team’s board of directors, ensuring a strong Andretti presence behind the scenes.

The partnership between GM and Andretti remains central to the project, leveraging Andretti’s motorsport facilities in Indiana and North Carolina alongside GM’s own resources in Michigan and the UK’s motorsport hub in Silverstone. Yet, from the outside, the Cadillac branding is taking center stage.

This marks Formula 1’s first new team since Haas joined the grid in 2016, injecting fresh energy into the series. While Haas brought the American flag to F1 ownership, Cadillac's arrival as a major OEM-backed team signals a bolder statement from Detroit, one that aims to carve out a legacy not just in the US but on the global stage of F1.

The challenge now? Delivering on the promise of American innovation in a sport where Europe has long ruled the roost. The clock is ticking, Cadillac 2026 isn’t far off.