Cadillac racing in F1 with Andretti

[KimiRai]

[...] Though it is still subject to final confirmation, Cadillac’s F1 preparations continue at pace. Most recently, ex-Virgin/Marussia/Manor boss Graeme Lowdon – who has played a key role in advising the Andretti-turned-Cadillac project – was confirmed as team principal.

The team that has been put together in the UK has been working on a baseline 2026 car for several months.

It has been free to do this with zero windtunnel or CFD testing impediment because F1’s initial rejection of its entry meant it was not subject to any of the regulatory restrictions that exist – including the ban on 2026 aerodynamic testing that other teams were working under until January 1 2025.

Cadillac was also under no obligation to adhere to budget cap limitations although, as with the theoretically unlimited aero testing possibilities, the size of the team naturally limits how much work can be conducted anyway.

It is understood that working out how to impose restrictions on Cadillac was discussed at an F1 Commission meeting prior to the news that it had struck an agreement in principle to join the grid.

Cadillac will be treated as an ‘equal-last’ team in 2025. Along with Sauber, which finished last in the constructors’ championship in 2024, Cadillac will get 115% of the baseline amount.

That is 5% more than Williams, 10% more than Racing Bulls and 15% more than Haas – all teams that Cadillac would, assuming it is targeting midfield respectability, like to be fighting when it enters in 2026.

Although Cadillac has had, on paper, a fantastic advantage for the last few months to conduct its testing without any limitation, existing teams are not worried because the finalised technical regulations haven’t been set and Cadillac should not have had access to what was being discussed – only the provisional rules that had been published.

Opposition teams therefore believe that this ‘headstart’ has only mitigated the worst of how much work Cadillac has to do.

Another reason they do not believe it confers an advantage in reality is because of the scale of the task facing the Cadillac team, which had a group of around 280 people working full-time on the project at the end of 2024 – the majority being technical recruits as design work has the longest lead time.

Similarly, while the team will be subject to the same budget cap as others in 2025, that only rules out the most extreme benefits that could have been gained (e.g. the team somehow having the capacity to develop, build and extensively test a 2026 mule car).

One team boss called it a “monumental task” and said “even if there was a small headstart, it will balance out very quickly”.

Where Cadillac will have a more tangible advantage is that its sole focus will be on the new rules in 2026 while its rivals are fighting a championship on-track in 2025, and spending as little development and money on the current season at the same time.

This means all of Cadillac’s budget and ATR can go towards 2026 where others will be split – but making use of that depends on having a team big enough and mature enough, and access to the relevant facilities.

There will be some gains through Cadillac’s Ferrari customer engine deal. Though that arrangement will not be a Haas-style dependency, taking everything F1’s rules allow, the arrangement will include a supply of gearboxes and the rear suspension, which is a significant amount of work that Cadillac will not have to undertake itself.

Cadillac only intends to be an engine customer as an interim solution. General Motors originally targeted a 2028 debut for its engine but now says it will have its own works engine by the end of the decade.

Were GM already preparing an engine for the next couple of years it would, like the team itself, have benefitted from a temporary period of no limitations while awaiting an entry to be confirmed.

Instead, whatever the target timeline now, GM will be subject to engine development restrictions like other engine manufacturers – it will not have unlimited time and money to spend.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/cadi ... trictions/

[FW17]

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/cadi ... -revealed/

Plans for a $150 million investment in a new factory for Cadillac’s Formula 1 project at Concord in New Hampshire have been revealed.

I would have thought the Aerospace ally at Connecticut would have been the prefered location.

[KimiRai]

Formula 1: General Motors has 2026 entry formally approved - BBC Sport

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/ar ... ym58723v9o

[Macklaren]

At the very least, looking forward to an epic livery. Their WEC liveries are glorious

[Chuckjr]

At the very least, looking forward to an epic livery. Their WEC liveries are glorious

The chrome gold would look epic on an F1 car. Wow.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/2052767 ... ry-Concept

[deadhead]

UK made chassis with a Ferrari engine .. cool combo

[kptaylor]

I just hope they aren't too centered on an American driver at the cost of performance, a la Alpine...

[Piscine]

Gents, I just heard a very interesting but sort of crazy rumor in the Boston area. A colleague has informed me Cadillac F1 personnel were seen hunting certain MIT departments for fresh minds for their various technical projects.

MIT of course being known for bleeding edge youths with absolutely incredible ideas and execution. I am now wondering why they weren't approached ages ago now

[JPower]

If you're Cadillac, do you not go after Horner ASAP?

Seems like it would make almost too much sense.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

If you're Cadillac, do you not go after Horner ASAP?

Seems like it would make almost too much sense.

Certainly no harm in making an approach. I assume he'll have a gardening leave period, but even if he has, he'd be worth having.

Trying to think, was Horner for or against Andretti getting an entry?

[stephen]

Formula 1 journalists Lawrence Barretto and James Hinchcliffe have discussed the possible driver line-up for the Cadillac F1 team, set to make its debut in the championship in 2026. The pair have backed former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas as the best options for the American team, claiming that "they need that experience."

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/serg ... /10749752/

[mvfad]

These days, a driver's experience doesn't mean much when it comes to car development. Telemetry provides everything engineers need to know. In fact, there are many engineers who don't care what drivers say anyway.

The great advantage of having experienced drivers is being able to complete the entire test and race schedule without damaging the car. But you can also achieve this with rookie drivers. For example, Bortoleto and Hadjar have done this very well, maybe Kimi also. Sauber's performance has improved significantly over the course of the season, even with one of the drivers having no previous F1 experience.

If you look at the career retrospectives of drivers in the feeder series, you can get a sense of whether they are accident-prone or not (Sargeant and Colapinto were obvious examples of drivers with a high accident propensity by watching their races in the feeder series - all the accidents and mistakes Sargeant made in F1 are exactly the same ones he made in F3 and F2).

From the current Formula 2 grid, Dunne seems accident-prone, so it would be a risky bet. Crawford isn't accident-prone, but I don't think he's ready for F1 yet — I'd give him a year of a robust private testing program to hopefully get into 2027 - he seems to me like Drugovich in terms of speed and talent.

Other "young" options are Mick Schumacher and Drugovich.

Mick is known for taking long time to adapt and hasn't shown great performance at HAAS. He's had many accidents in F1. He's done well in the WEC, but some drivers perform better in prototype cars than formula cars, and vice versa. Furthermore, Mick was passed over at Mercedes, Audi (German teams), and Alpine F1 (where he competes in the WEC), so it would be a bit strange for Cadillac to sign him for F1 (just, why?).

Drugovich isn't accident-prone, but his performance in an F1 car is still unknown. His free practice participations can't be used as a performance parameter because teams typically test different things. He has already competed in two 24h of LeMans and in a Daytona 24h for Cadillac (Whelen) and has done very well given the little experience he has in this type of car. It would be a risky bet on his performance, but Cadillac is unlikely to be a team that performs well next year, regardless of the drivers chosen.

[SealTheRealDeal]

These days, a driver's experience doesn't mean much when it comes to car development. Telemetry provides everything engineers need to know. In fact, there are many engineers who don't care what drivers say anyway.

The great advantage of having experienced drivers is being able to complete the entire test and race schedule without damaging the car. But you can also achieve this with rookie drivers. For example, Bortoleto and Hadjar have done this very well, maybe Kimi also. Sauber's performance has improved significantly over the course of the season, even with one of the drivers having no previous F1 experience.

If you look at the career retrospectives of drivers in the feeder series, you can get a sense of whether they are accident-prone or not (Sargeant and Colapinto were obvious examples of drivers with a high accident propensity by watching their races in the feeder series - all the accidents and mistakes Sargeant made in F1 are exactly the same ones he made in F3 and F2).

From the current Formula 2 grid, Dunne seems accident-prone, so it would be a risky bet. Crawford isn't accident-prone, but I don't think he's ready for F1 yet — I'd give him a year of a robust private testing program to hopefully get into 2027 - he seems to me like Drugovich in terms of speed and talent.

Other "young" options are Mick Schumacher and Drugovich.

Mick is known for taking long time to adapt and hasn't shown great performance at HAAS. He's had many accidents in F1. He's done well in the WEC, but some drivers perform better in prototype cars than formula cars, and vice versa. Furthermore, Mick was passed over at Mercedes, Audi (German teams), and Alpine F1 (where he competes in the WEC), so it would be a bit strange for Cadillac to sign him for F1 (just, why?).

Drugovich isn't accident-prone, but his performance in an F1 car is still unknown. His free practice participations can't be used as a performance parameter because teams typically test different things. He has already competed in two 24h of LeMans and in a Daytona 24h for Cadillac (Whelen) and has done very well given the little experience he has in this type of car. It would be a risky bet on his performance, but Cadillac is unlikely to be a team that performs well next year, regardless of the drivers chosen.

I think they should seek f1 experience only so-far as to avoid an actual rookie on the grounds that a team that is still figuring out F1 isn't going to be much help to a rookie driver figuring out F1.

Zhou would also be a safe pair of hands (in terms of bringing the car home in one piece), with enough F1 experience. He should certainly be considered if Drugovich is still a serious contender, based on their relative performances as teammates in 2021. Slap a Buick logo on his helmet and GM will easily re-coup the entry fee...

[WardenOfTheNorth]

These days, a driver's experience doesn't mean much when it comes to car development. Telemetry provides everything engineers need to know. In fact, there are many engineers who don't care what drivers say anyway.

The great advantage of having experienced drivers is being able to complete the entire test and race schedule without damaging the car. But you can also achieve this with rookie drivers. For example, Bortoleto and Hadjar have done this very well, maybe Kimi also. Sauber's performance has improved significantly over the course of the season, even with one of the drivers having no previous F1 experience.

If you look at the career retrospectives of drivers in the feeder series, you can get a sense of whether they are accident-prone or not (Sargeant and Colapinto were obvious examples of drivers with a high accident propensity by watching their races in the feeder series - all the accidents and mistakes Sargeant made in F1 are exactly the same ones he made in F3 and F2).

From the current Formula 2 grid, Dunne seems accident-prone, so it would be a risky bet. Crawford isn't accident-prone, but I don't think he's ready for F1 yet — I'd give him a year of a robust private testing program to hopefully get into 2027 - he seems to me like Drugovich in terms of speed and talent.

Other "young" options are Mick Schumacher and Drugovich.

Mick is known for taking long time to adapt and hasn't shown great performance at HAAS. He's had many accidents in F1. He's done well in the WEC, but some drivers perform better in prototype cars than formula cars, and vice versa. Furthermore, Mick was passed over at Mercedes, Audi (German teams), and Alpine F1 (where he competes in the WEC), so it would be a bit strange for Cadillac to sign him for F1 (just, why?).

Drugovich isn't accident-prone, but his performance in an F1 car is still unknown. His free practice participations can't be used as a performance parameter because teams typically test different things. He has already competed in two 24h of LeMans and in a Daytona 24h for Cadillac (Whelen) and has done very well given the little experience he has in this type of car. It would be a risky bet on his performance, but Cadillac is unlikely to be a team that performs well next year, regardless of the drivers chosen.

I think they should seek f1 experience only so-far as to avoid an actual rookie on the grounds that a team that is still figuring out F1 isn't going to be much help to a rookie driver figuring out F1.

Zhou would also be a safe pair of hands (in terms of bringing the car home in one piece), with enough F1 experience. He should certainly be considered if Drugovich is still a serious contender, based on their relative performances as teammates in 2021. Slap a Buick logo on his helmet and GM will easily re-coup the entry fee...

Indeed, the likes of Checo and Bottas can even bring their experience and knowledge of what to do, and importantly what not to do, from their time in multiple established teams.

[mvfad]

I think they should seek f1 experience only so-far as to avoid an actual rookie on the grounds that a team that is still figuring out F1 isn't going to be much help to a rookie driver figuring out F1.

Zhou would also be a safe pair of hands (in terms of bringing the car home in one piece), with enough F1 experience. He should certainly be considered if Drugovich is still a serious contender, based on their relative performances as teammates in 2021. Slap a Buick logo on his helmet and GM will easily re-coup the entry fee...

Regarding Zhou, there are two issues here that go beyond racing.

I don't see how General Motors would benefit from having a Chinese driver in their car, from a market perspective. Furthermore, Graeme Lowdon has very close ties to Zhou, which implies a significant conflict of interest, which is typically frowned upon by large companies like GM.