The announcement dropped like a bombshell in the paddock: Ferrari will supply engines to the Cadillac F1 Team for its debut in Formula 1 in 2026, until the team is ready to produce them independently.
This unexpected yet promising partnership between Ferrari and Cadillac raises many questions about the future of this collaboration between two automotive giants.
Read more:
- 1.075 million dollars—that’s what the new World Champion will have to pay to keep racing in Formula 1 in 2025
- Mercedes’ stroke of genius: the brand removes the brakes from our cars and replaces them with an innovative system housed in our engines
A Ferrari engine in a Cadillac?
Starting in 2026, Cadillac’s future F1 cars will be powered by Ferrari engines designed in Maranello. A multi-year agreement has been signed between Ferrari and Andretti Formula Racing, the structure operating the Cadillac team. However, this deal remains subject to final approval from the FIA and Formula 1. The agreement follows months of intense negotiations for the addition of an 11th team to the grid. While Cadillac aims to develop its own engines by 2028, the first two seasons will rely on customer power units. This means Ferrari will supply engines to three teams in 2026: its own Scuderia, Haas F1 Team, and now Cadillac, replacing Sauber (Stake), which will transition to Audi. Fun fact: Ferrari will power two American teams in 2026… That’s quite a surprise!
Ferrari is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with General Motors and TWG Global to supply the Cadillac Formula 1 Team with its power unit and gearbox starting in 2026.https://t.co/428P0qUEkw pic.twitter.com/vPjp3G17Qg
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 10, 2024
A logical collaboration in Formula 1
For Cadillac, entering Formula 1 is far more than a sporting challenge. General Motors, Cadillac’s parent company, sees F1 as an opportunity to bring cutting-edge technologies developed on the track to its consumer vehicles. Advanced electrification, software development, and powertrain efficiency are key areas GM hopes to refine through this venture. For Ferrari, the partnership offers its own advantages. Supplying an additional team strengthens its political influence in the paddock while maximizing its engine expertise. Moreover, the influence of Mario Andretti—former world champion and a board member of the Cadillac team—likely played a pivotal role in the negotiations. Given that Andretti raced in Formula 1 with Ferrari in the 1970s, it’s safe to assume he maintained strong ties with the team.
Cadillac: Ambitious goals in F1
Cadillac’s arrival in F1 will mark the first new team entry since 2016. While other names, like Aston Martin, have appeared in recent years, those were based on acquiring existing teams rather than starting from scratch. Despite encountering significant resistance within the paddock, this project aligns with a broader strategy to make the sport more competitive and global. Cadillac’s ambitions are clear: to establish itself as a major player on the grid from the start, leveraging Ferrari’s prestige to draw attention. With this alliance, Cadillac and Ferrari are writing a new chapter in Formula 1 history. Whether the collaboration lives up to its promise remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the excitement is already palpable.
This $745,000 boat is the only one powered by a Porsche SUV engine
This article explores the details behind the partnership between Cadillac and Ferrari for the 2026 Formula 1 season. It highlights the strategic stakes for both brands, General Motors’ technological goals, and the context surrounding the arrival of the 11th team on the grid—a development that could shake up the championship’s balance.
Images: © Sean Bull Design
