Perez and Bottas to Lead Cadillac’s Bold Formula 1 Entry

Success has always been measured by precision, performance, innovation and against the best in Formula 1. The addition of new teams to the grid has often created excitement and expectation, however few introductions to Formula 1 have been greeted with quite as much fanfare as that of Cadillac, due to arrive on the championship grid for the 2026 season. Backed by General Motors, and aided by the investment of a well-established list of American sports investors, the American marque enters the F1 championship with ambitious, long-term aspirations beyond just having its name on the entry list, with its decision to sign experienced race drivers Sergio “Checo” Perez and Valtteri Bottas serving as clear indication of intent.

The story of Cadillac’s involvement with Formula 1 hasn’t been a direct one. It all began with the intention from Michael Andretti to introduce a second American constructor into the premier class of motorsport. Getting approval took years of struggle and negotiation, however rather than the idea being scrapped they partnered up with TWG Motorsports, General Motors and some well known names in American sport and put their time, money and resources in before even having approval.

With Cadillac having earned their way onto the Formula 1 grid, focus can now turn to establishing a winning organization that is set for continuous improvement year over year. Landing two seasoned veterans as drivers, forming a strong engineering department, and investing in state-of-the-art facilities on both sides of the pond is just the first step. While immediate wins aren’t likely the goal for Cadillac’s F1 program, their focus remains on building an organization that can one day compete with the existing titans of the sport, with all current actions taken towards sustainable, long-term success.

1. Cadillac’s Long Journey to Formula 1

Years before the confirmation arrived for the 2026 season, the wheels had already begun to turn on Cadillac’s potential arrival to the pinnacle of motorsport. The initial push came from Michael Andretti, who inherited his father Mario’s desire to see a second American outfit join the Formula 1 circus. The bid received significant backing from outside but the process to gain acceptance was difficult and took a long time. Other teams struggled to see the appeal of adding to their number, which added numerous hurdles to the process.

A Dream That Refused to Stop:

• Michael Andretti launched the project
• Approval process took years
• Existing teams raised concerns
• New leadership strengthened the bid
• Cadillac secured a 2026 entry

Things were given new impetus when TWG Motorsports hooked up with General Motors to bolster Cadillac’s push to reach Formula 1. Headed up by Mark Walter and Dan Towriss, Cadillac were now supported by a bigger pot of money, more racing acumen and a more defined future direction all factors in boosting belief that the American luxury brand could become a genuine challenger. 

What had been a vague proposal now became a real and well-backed racing team, the strongest element in many ways. “We had some extremely capable leadership for the program, which really gave confidence that it could get done, but was put to bed, once we heard Cadillac coming into Formula 1 for 2026, it was more than just another team joining the grid,” read the statement.

2. Strong Leadership Driving the Project

As you’d expect with any good Formula 1 team, you need good leaders and Cadillac has certainly built their project around that. Instead of just showing up at the front of the grid, the team has set up a firm base of strong leaders and a vision that lasts more than just next season. Thought and money and knowledge all combined as the organization meticulously plans out its next moves and this all bodes well for longevity. Leadership is becoming the American’s greatest asset.

The Team Behind the Vision:

• Experienced executive leadership
• Strong financial backing
• Deep motorsport knowledge
• Long-term development strategy
• Focus on sustainable success

Mark Walter contributes years of business acumen and strategic leadership stemming from his engagement with major sports leagues. His experience creating highly functional organizations is not confined to racing, but he brings this talent to support the overarching Cadillac effort in terms of organizational support and strategic vision. With him is Dan Towriss, who has spent a considerable amount of time working within major North American series in American open-wheel racing, NASCAR and IMSA.

“We faced a great deal of skepticism during the application process, with a large contingent of individuals believing the project was never going to materialize,” Towriss says of Cadillac’s past challenges. “But we were galvanized and continued to push ahead. What was at one point an adversarial process, for us it has become part of who we are and our inspiration, testament to the value of preparation and perseverance.”

3. Why Perez and Bottas Were Chosen

For any new team, driver selection will arguably be one of the largest and most important calls to make, with Cadillac taking an experience first approach over uncertainty. Rather than place their hopes entirely on potential alone, Cadillac signed both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas who boast considerable F1 experience with many years spent competing at the pinnacle of the sport, both are more than aware of the challenges associated with developing a race-winning car and it will be equally as crucial to Cadillac’s development process as raw pace will be.

Experience That Builds Success:

• Hundreds of Formula 1 race starts
• Multiple Grand Prix victories
• Extensive car development experience
• Proven success with top teams
• Strong technical feedback

Driver insight is absolutely essential for Formula 1 progress. With each free practice session, sim session and Grand Prix weekend, engineers are gathering data and learning. A good driver will quickly diagnose handling deficiencies, report technical issues and work with engineers to find workable solutions. Perez and Bottas are both very experienced drivers, having worked for years at the forefront of the sport and, in doing so, gained the experience of how to develop and improve cars within a world-championship-winning outfit.

They will be a great asset to help Cadillac develop much more efficiently. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon said the driver partnership was “an undeniable statement of intent from Cadillac” as the duo have combined for 16 wins and more than 100 podium finishes in their F1 careers, but crucially they understand how successful businesses operate behind the scenes, the infrastructure required to build a successful team and the mindset needed to be at the very top information that can’t be measured by stats.

4. Valtteri Bottas Brings Championship Knowledge

Valtteri Bottas is coming to Cadillac with over ten years of experience competing in Formula 1 and demonstrated experience at the highest level of competition. His strongest performance came while driving with Mercedes where he teamed up with Lewis Hamilton for some of the team’s most dominant periods in the sport. While at Mercedes,Bottas secured numerous Grand Prix wins and helped Mercedes clinch multiple Constructors’ Championships.

A Driver With Winning Experience:

• Over 10 years in Formula 1
• Former Mercedes race winner
• Multiple Grand Prix victories
• Championship-winning team experience
• Strong technical understanding

After his spell with Mercedes, he continued his F1 journey with Sauber, before a brief return to Mercedes in a reserve driver role. Working with various teams over his career meant that Bottas has had exposure to a whole range of engineering solutions, different team structures and development methods, which would be immensely valuable in building a new F1 team from scratch for a new entity like Cadillac. His knowledge and experience in evaluating how different people work together could certainly help Cadillac implement the best methods to achieve the best results possible.

Having the experience from several different teams in the paddock provides far more value than just having race results to show off. Bottas himself seems to be enthusiastic about being a part of Cadillac’s long term F1 project, stating it was appealing to be a part of a project in its formative stages rather than joining an existing F1 team. He also made positive comments regarding Mercedes, for giving him the opportunity to explore his next chapter, and for supporting his decision.

5. Sergio Perez Adds Experience and Determination

Joining Cadillac as one of Formula 1’s veteran drivers Sergio “Checo” Perez is among F1’s most recognized and decorated racers. With well over 280 career Grand Prix starts and six wins, Perez is recognized as a solid competitor known for smart tire management, savvy strategy, and the ability to perform when it counts. He’s an obvious selection to anchor the new Cadillac team’s first foray into Formula 1. His presence should provide both pace and proven leadership.

A Proven Race-Day Performer:

• Over 280 Formula 1 starts
• Six Grand Prix victories
• Strong tire management skills
• Extensive front-running experience
• Excellent technical feedback

Perez also possesses recent competition experience, having raced for wins and championship success with Red Bull Racing. His tenure within a top Formula 1 outfit has afforded him insight into car development, race operations and overall high-performance, skills he will leverage to build robust technical processes within the new Cadillac operation during its inaugural seasons. His perspective on racing from the front will provide engineers with technical feedback only a driver with this level of competition experience can deliver, providing support for the team’s ongoing development process.

With his F1 future taking a break for the 2025 season, Perez is motivated by the opportunity to help develop a winning future from scratch with Cadillac, where he’s spoken enthusiastically about the chance to represent such a legendary American brand. Cadillac is well-positioned to capitalize on his popularity in Mexico, connecting the team with a crucial global market for the General Motors brand. In addition to the experience, talent and passion, Perez brings immense international recognition to Cadillac.

6. Building a Formula 1 Team from the Ground Up

As Graeme Lowdon puts it: ‘We wanted to make sure that whatever we do is right. “From the outset the target has always been the highest possible level, but when you have an existing team with a wealth of history, and you are a completely new operation you really are having to build from scratch in all areas. We are on a journey, building every facet from scratch. Whether it’s about people, systems or process it requires commitment and teamwork.”

Creating a Strong Foundation:

• Recruiting experienced specialists
• Building modern facilities
• Expanding a global workforce
• Developing efficient operations
• Focusing on long-term growth

After gaining full approval from the relevant bodies, Cadillac has moved very rapidly, and now employs nearly 600 staff throughout its ever-expanding operations. The operation is located just outside Silverstone in the UK, but its main operational hub is based in Fishers, Indiana, and there are plans to build an engine manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. It means Cadillac can bring together the experience of European Formula 1 operations with the engineering muscle available within General Motors, back in the US.

This is intended to improve its technical capabilities on the ground and provides a strong base upon which to build going forward. The creation of a successful Formula 1 team requires more than simply employing good engineers and mechanics. All aspects of the organisation from the design office to manufacturing, logistics, race operations and strategy need to function in perfect unison. That is not an area that can be created in the space of a single season but Cadillac is hoping that by investing now, they will see the benefit in the coming seasons, taking the long-term approach as opposed to searching for instant gratification.

7. Engineering Every Component from Scratch

Creating an F1 car from nothing is arguably one of the biggest challenges in motorsports. That’s the challenge that Cadillac had to overcome when creating its very first F1 race car, the MAC-26 (a tribute to Mario Andretti). After a successful shake-down test at Silverstone, the car is ready to be developed ahead of Cadillac’s first F1 season. It’s the culmination of years of work by designers, engineers, and mechanics towards the same goal.

Building the MAC-26:

• Designed from the ground up
• Thousands of custom components
• Advanced engineering and testing
• Strict safety and performance standards
• Successful Silverstone shakedown

Valtteri Bottas called the milestone a “really significant accomplishment.” “I don’t think most people realize how difficult it is to design and engineer an F1 car,” Bottas said. “There are thousands of parts, all of which need to be meticulously designed, tested, produced and then assembled, and each of them needs to comply with safety regulations while simultaneously producing the best possible performance under racing conditions. Everything counts even the tiniest of details matters.”

According to Pat Symonds, executive engineering consultant at the company, starting from scratch was a unique hurdle. While established teams often rely on a proven design, adapting it each season, Cadillac had to devise every component suspension, aerodynamics, chassis and many mechanical elements from the ground up. Successfully producing the MAC-26 and getting it to the track for preseason testing revealed the technical capacity and operational efficiency of the team, earning admiration from the F1 community before it ever contested a race. It was clear the team had a long-term strategy based on innovation.

8. Setting Realistic Goals for the Debut Season

Cadillac is entering Formula 1 with accomplished drivers, adequate financial resources and long-term objectives. The company is aware of the challenges of going head to head against established constructors. Instead of rushing toward victories, the team will focus on gradually acquiring knowledge, gaining experience and growing with each Grand Prix. Learning and improving are the top priorities in the first season.

A Long-Term Growth Strategy:

• Focus on steady improvement
• Learn from every race
• Use proven Ferrari power units
• Develop a GM Formula 1 engine
• Build for long-term success

In their initial years, Cadillac will use customer Ferrari power units, while GM works on its own Formula 1 engine. This provides the team with significant experience at the wheel without any pressure of developing a new power unit. They’ll be able to dedicate more of their efforts to chassis, aero, and the performance of the car overall. Every race will serve as a wealth of information to implement into further developments. 

The factory power unit is slated for a 2029 rollout. To date, the approach has been one of measured ambition from team president Dan Towriss, who carefully manages expectations publicly while pushing every individual on the team to be better than they have been before. The goal for Cadillac over time is to chip away at the lead of their rivals and evolve into a legitimate F1 championship competitor.

9. Creating a Unique American Identity

Cadillac is building a Formula 1 team that proudly reflects its American heritage while embracing the sport’s global audience. Instead of copying established competitors, the organization wants to create a bold and authentic identity. Every aspect of the team is designed to represent confidence, innovation, and long-term ambition. This vision extends beyond racing and shapes the team’s overall culture. Cadillac aims to stand out both on and off the track.

Building the Cadillac Identity:

• Celebrate American heritage
• Create a unique team culture
• Connect with global fans
• Focus on innovation
• Build a lasting legacy

Dan Towriss has made it clear that Cadillac did not enter Formula 1 to follow the path of other teams. The goal is to create a brand that represents American creativity, determination, and engineering excellence. Cassidy Towriss has also helped shape the team’s public image with fresh ideas for fan engagement. Together, they are developing a modern identity that appeals to both loyal Formula 1 supporters and new American fans. Their vision focuses on authenticity rather than imitation.

Cadillac believes its identity should be reflected in the people who make up the organization. Every employee is encouraged to embrace a culture built on ambition, accountability, and continuous improvement. Team members understand they are helping create a new chapter in American motorsport history. Each achievement contributes to the team’s long-term growth and reputation. Together, they are working to establish Cadillac as a respected force in Formula 1.

10. A Foundation Built for the Future

Cadillac understands that its first Formula 1 season will be about building a strong foundation rather than chasing immediate victories. For Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, success will be measured through continuous improvement and valuable race experience. Every Grand Prix will provide new data that helps engineers refine the car and improve performance. Small gains throughout the season will support the team’s long-term ambitions. Progress, not perfection, is the primary objective.

Looking Toward the Future:

• Prioritize steady development
• Improve with every race
• Build long-term competitiveness
• Strengthen teamwork and reliability
• Create a lasting Formula 1 legacy

Valtteri Bottas believes that consistent improvement is the most meaningful measure of success for a brand-new Formula 1 team. Starting near the back of the grid may be expected, but the goal is to steadily close the gap to established competitors. Cadillac aims to improve reliability, pace, teamwork, and overall race performance throughout the season. Each event offers another opportunity to learn and develop. Visible progress will demonstrate that the project is moving in the right direction.

Cadillac’s Formula 1 journey has been built on persistence, careful planning, and a long-term vision for success. From overcoming approval challenges to recruiting experienced drivers and developing its first race car, every milestone reflects years of dedication. The team now has the leadership, talent, and resources needed to establish itself on the Formula 1 grid. Although challenges remain, Cadillac is well positioned for future growth. The 2026 season marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both Cadillac and American motorsport.