In addition to the new technical regulations, the 2026 season will witness the addition of an 11th team—Cadillac, the American squad supported by TWG Motorsports and General Motors. How will this fresh contender fare in its inaugural season? Here’s a comprehensive overview of the latest entry to the F1 lineup…
Drivers for 2026
Valtteri Bottas #77: 10 Grand Prix victories, 67 podium finishes, 1797 points, 246 starts.
Sergio Perez #11: 6 Grand Prix wins, 39 podiums, 1638 points, 281 starts.
Despite being new, Cadillac has chosen an experienced driver lineup, hiring two seasoned racers who were out of full-time seats in 2025.
Returning to the grid is Valtteri Bottas, who found himself without a permanent position after leaving Kick Sauber at the end of 2024. He served as a reserve driver for Mercedes, where he previously achieved 10 wins from 2017 to 2021, and will now leverage that experience.
On the other side, Sergio Perez is also back after concluding his stint with Red Bull at the end of 2024. The Mexican brings a wealth of experience, highlighted by his P2 finish in the 2023 championship.
How did Cadillac perform in 2025?
Cadillac did not participate in 2025; instead, the team focused on preparation for their debut, officially obtaining their final approval in March.
A significant milestone was achieved in August when the driver pairing of Bottas and Perez was confirmed. The team also secured personnel, including former IndyCar star Colton Herta as a test driver.
In October, Pietro Fittipaldi was named a development driver, set to work alongside fellow simulator drivers Simon Pagenaud and Charlie Eastwood. Meanwhile, Zhou Guanyu joined as a reserve driver in January 2026.
In December, Cadillac confirmed plans for their inaugural livery reveal, scheduled for a Super Bowl advertisement set to air on February 8.
History
While Cadillac is new to Formula 1, it boasts a rich history as an iconic American automotive brand, established in 1902 and renowned for luxury vehicles throughout the 20th century.
In motorsport, Cadillac has a legacy dating back to the 1950s with participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, returning in the early 2000s to run Northstar LMP cars from 2000 to 2002.
The brand has also achieved success in various racing categories, including the World Challenge GT Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where they continue to compete, and has ventured into the World Endurance Championship recently.
In November 2024, Formula 1 announced an agreement in principle with General Motors to facilitate Cadillac’s entry into the competition, with final approval granted in March 2025, setting the stage for their participation in 2026.
Greatest Achievement
As Cadillac has yet to compete, they have no racing accomplishments to highlight. Nevertheless, one of their notable strengths lies in securing experienced personnel for their team.
Team Principal Graeme Lowdon brings experience from his tenure at the Marussia/Manor team, while the driver duo of Bottas and Perez boasts a combined total of 527 Grand Prix appearances.
With the addition of reserve driver Zhou and a lineup of development drivers, including Fittipaldi, Cadillac appears to have met their goal of building a team with significant experience, as Lowdon recently stated emphasized the importance of “experience and driver expertise.”
One Key Goal for 2026
Team members have set realistic expectations for their first season, acknowledging the challenges ahead. Bottas remarked that they need to “mentally prepare for the worst” initially.
However, he maintained that “the sky’s the limit” for the future, a sentiment echoed by Lowdon, who noted that they are competing against teams with significantly more experience. The focus will be on executing their controllable factors effectively and measuring their performance against those.
Lowdon emphasized the difficulty of the task ahead, stating their commitment to hard work, with the hope that their efforts will lead to greater competitiveness in the long run.
