Cadillac Debuts in Formula 1 with Andretti Roots

GM's luxury brand joins the F1 grid with TWG Motorsports and veteran drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:10pm

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After nearly five years of obstacles, the Andretti family's dream to enter an American team in Formula 1 has finally come to life. However, the project is now led by TWG Motorsports, a group that includes Mark Walter and Dan Towriss, along with General Motors and the Cadillac brand. The team, called Cadillac F1, will make its debut at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend with Mexican driver Sergio Perez and Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel.

Why it matters

Cadillac's entry into Formula 1 marks the first new team to join the grid in a decade, and the first American-backed team since Haas F1 in 2016. The move is part of Cadillac's strategy to boost its global brand presence, and the team is billing itself as the 'American' representation in the sport, even though Haas has been competing for years.

The details

Cadillac F1 was initially denied entry into Formula 1, but the team persisted and continued developing a car and engine even without approval. The team has hired Perez and Bottas as its drivers, and the car will be called the MAC-26, honoring Mario Andretti, the last American to win an F1 championship in 1978. The team's operations are spread across the United States and the UK, with the GM power unit facility located near Hendrick Motorsports' campus in North Carolina.

  • Cadillac F1 had its initial shakedown at Silverstone in January 2026.
  • The team participated in F1's official preseason testing in Barcelona and Bahrain in February 2026.
  • The team's debut will be at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, 2026.

The players

TWG Motorsports

A group led by Mark Walter and Dan Towriss that acquired the Cadillac F1 project after the Andretti family's initial bid was denied.

General Motors

The parent company of the Cadillac brand, which is partnering with TWG Motorsports to enter Formula 1.

Sergio "Checo" Perez

A Mexican driver hired by Cadillac F1 to be one of the team's veteran drivers.

Valtteri Bottas

A Finnish driver hired by Cadillac F1 to be one of the team's veteran drivers.

Mario Andretti

The 1978 Formula 1 champion, whose name will be honored on the Cadillac F1 car.

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What they’re saying

“The historic debut of the Cadillac Formula 1 team in Australia is the realization of a vision that has driven so many of us at General Motors, and a moment of tremendous pride for everyone who has worked tirelessly to make it happen.”

— Mark Reuss, President, General Motors

“There's definitely a national pride element to Cadillac. It feels like the right place at the right time, where Formula 1 is globally, where Cadillac is as a brand, and where the U.S. is on the world sporting stage.”

— Dan Towriss, Co-owner, TWG Motorsports

What’s next

If former IndyCar driver Colton Herta has a successful season racing in F2, he could soon be the first American driver in F1 since Logan Sargeant flamed out in 2023.

The takeaway

Cadillac's entry into Formula 1 represents a bold and ambitious move by the American luxury brand to boost its global presence, with the team billing itself as the 'American' representation in the sport. The team's journey to the grid has been long and challenging, but the partnership with TWG Motorsports and General Motors has helped turn the Andretti family's dream into a reality.