Over two years in the making and with the FIA striving to expand the grid, there is now final confirmation of the Cadillac F1 team’s admission to Formula 1 from 2026.
Following confirmation from Formula 1 that it has agreed commercial terms with the Cadillac F1 team, the FIA Formula One World Championship will have an 11th team from the start of 2026– the sport’s first wholly new entrant since Haas in 2016 – which marks the culmination of more than two years of intense, but ultimately successful work in expanding the grid.
On January 2nd, 2023, the FIA President set the wheels in motion with a statement that read: “I have asked my FIA team to look at launching an expressions of interest process for prospective new teams for the FIA F1 World Championship.”
Phase 1: Call for Expressions of Interest
The rigorous FIA application began with the call for expressions of interest issued by the FIA on February 2nd, 2023, which aimed to identify “prospective teams seeking to participate at a competitive level in the FIA Formula One World Championship”, and made clear that all applicants would “undergo thorough due diligence” and be assessed on “technical capabilities and resources, the ability of the team to raise and maintain sufficient funding to allow participation in the Championship at a competitive level, and the team’s experience and human resources’.
Additionally, prospective teams would be required to address how they would manage the sustainability challenge, detail plans to achieve a net-zero CO2 impact by 2030 and illustrate how they intend to achieve a positive societal impact through its participation in the sport.
Explaining the decision to open an application process to expand the grid, FIA President Ben Sulayem said: “The process is a logical extension of the positive acceptance of the FIA’s 2026 F1 Power Unit Regulations from engine manufacturers which has attracted Audi to Formula 1 and created interest among other potential entrants.”
Phase 2: Application process, evaluation and approval
Seven expressions of interests were received.
Three were ruled out, with four progressing to the evaluation stage.
The FIA issued an invitation to Apply to Participate in the FIA Formula One World Championship in May 2023 to the four candidate teams that progressed. At the end of the detailed evaluation process that took place over the course of several months, and as confirmed in an FIA announcement on October 2nd, 2023, Andretti/Cadillac (Cadillac being a General Motors brand) was the only team to meet the applicable criteria in all material respects and therefore to proceed to the commercial phase of the assessment process with Formula 1, as the Commercial Rights Holder.
Andretti/Cadillac issued a statement saying: “Andretti Cadillac is honoured that the FIA has approved Andretti Formula Racing’s Expression of Interest for the FIA Formula One World Championship. We appreciate the FIA’s rigorous, transparent and complete evaluation process and are incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to compete in such a historic and prestigious championship.”
Phase 3: Referral for commercial discussions
With all requirements met and with due diligence complete, the FIA sent its “findings on Andretti/Cadillac to Formula 1) for commercial discussions”.
On January 31st, 2024, FOM rejected the Andretti/Cadillac bid but did not rule out future participation, stating that it
would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 Championship with a General Motors (GM)power unit, either as a GM works team or as a GM customer team designing all allowable components in-house,”
Maintaining Communication
Following further commercial discussions between Andretti/Cadillac and Formula 1,
FOM announced it had reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the 11th team to the Formula 1 grid from 2026. During the course of those discussions, the applicant team was rebranded as the Cadillac F1 team.
Commenting on the successful conclusion to the discussions, FIA President Ben Sulayem said: “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners. I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application to bring a GM/Cadillac branded team on the grid for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.”
The 11th team arrives
The FIA’s approval of the Cadillac F1 team, and FOM’s agreement of commercial terms with the team, means that an F1’s 11th team will be on the FIA Formula One World Championship grid in 2026. This marks a new era for the sport and the first time in a decade that the grid will feature 22 cars or more.
Celebrating the realisation of the vision to expand the Formula 1 grid that he he first announced more than two years ago, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said:
“Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship. The FIA Formula One Championship’s expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport.
“GM/Cadillac’s presence in the paddock will inspire future competitors and fans. Their entry strengthens our mission to push motorsport’s boundaries at the highest level.”