Cadillac’s path to F1: next steps
It has been just over two months since the official announcement of the agreement between Cadillac, F1, and the FIA for the General Motors giant’s team to join the Grand Prix paddock. However, the announcement referred only to a “preliminary agreement” between the parties, and the American manufacturer is still awaiting formal approval from the Federation to enter F1 as the 11th team starting in 2026. For this reason, the respected German magazine *Auto Motor und Sport* sought clarification from the FIA regarding the timeline for final approval of Cadillac’s candidacy.
The FIA’s response
“The FIA,” said a Federation spokesperson, “is currently reviewing Cadillac’s proposal. We are in the final stages of the review process and hope to conclude it soon. We are working within the prescribed timelines, and if Cadillac’s candidacy is approved, it will mean the team has met the requirements to join F1 starting from the 2026 season.” Following the statement of intent on November 25, there is little doubt that the FIA’s bureaucratic review is merely a formal, albeit necessary, step for the final approval of the 11th team on the grid. According to *AMuS*, the most likely scenario is that the green light will come before the start of this championship.
Additional rules: budget cap and wind tunnel hours
Another interesting aspect concerns the regulatory requirements for wind tunnel hours and the budget cap the new team must adhere to. “The budget cap rules will apply to the Cadillac team starting in 2025, from the moment its registration for the 2026 season is finalized. The team will also immediately have to comply with ATR (Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions, i.e., wind tunnel testing limitations).” The FIA spokesperson also stated that Cadillac would be granted 115% of the total wind tunnel hours, the same amount allocated to the team that finishes 10th in the 2024 season.
Until its entry into F1 is confirmed, Cadillac has been able to advance its design work using Toyota‘s wind tunnel in Cologne. This provides a slight advantage of a few weeks compared to the ten current teams, which were only allowed to begin developing their 2026 concepts starting January 1. However, the American manufacturer will now have the same number of wind tunnel hours as Sauber, which will officially rebrand as Audi next season.
Formal requirements for the 2028 power unit
There was also clarification regarding Cadillac’s first power unit for F1. The U.S. giant will initially enter the grid with Ferrari engines, having signed a multi-year supply agreement with the Italian manufacturer. However, it is no secret that the medium-term plan involves developing an in-house 1.6-liter turbo hybrid engine. On this point, the FIA told *Auto Motor und Sport* that any engine manufacturer must demonstrate, even retroactively, compliance with budget cap limitations in the three years preceding its entry.
In practical terms, this means that if Cadillac were to join F1 in 2028, it would need to prove it adhered to the $105 million annual budget cap starting in 2025, as well as in 2026 and 2027. Conversely, if entry were delayed to 2029, General Motors would be free to spend without budget constraints on power unit development in 2025.
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