Cadillac’s first years of Formula 1 will be driven by Ferrari power, it has been announced.
The GM brand has been pushing to enter F1 with Andretti Racing and, after initially being rebuffed, has been granted a slot on the grid for the 2026 season.
Cadillac already has F1 facilities in the U.S. and the U.K. but the company is not expected to be able to supply its own power unit until 2028, so has had to find a suitable partner.
Ferrari was always Mario Andretti’s preference, having raced withe the Scuderia in 1971 and 1972 (and briefly in 1982) and now the Italian manufacturer has confirmed that a deal has been done. Ferrari already supplies U.S. team Haas and Swiss setup Sauber, which will switch to Audi power in 2026.
New rules for 2026 will require the power units to run on 100 percent sustainable fuels with an equal split between internal combustion and electric power and Ferrari is already well-ahead on the engineering process.
“It’s great to see the commitment of another American team, backed by one of the most highly respected marques in the motor industry, at a time when Formula 1 is increasing in popularity in the United States,” said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.
“We are delighted therefore that we will be supplying the team with our power unit and gearbox as the basis of this technical collaboration. It means we will continue to have two customer teams in the championship with all the benefits this brings in terms of technical development within Ferrari.”
Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon added, “We are thrilled to partner with Ferrari as the power unit and gearbox supplier for our Cadillac team, bringing together two remarkable legacies. Choosing the right power unit partner is crucial, and we trust in Ferrari’s passion, excellence and the exceptional capabilities of their people.”
Ferrari missed out on the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ title by just 14 points from McLaren and, while Haas and Sauber finished seventh and tenth in the standings, there were points in the season when Ferrari’s customer cars proved to be just as quick as the factory team.
Cadillac’s F1 debut won’t be lacking (prancing) horsepower, that’s for sure.
