The American manufacturer Cadillac is set to make its Formula 1 debut in the 2026 season, which kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in March. However, according to former F1 driver Karun Chandhok, expectations should remain realistic. As a brand-new and relatively inexperienced team competing against ten well-established teams, simply progressing beyond the first qualifying session (Q1) would already represent a remarkable achievement for the American outfit.
Chandhok on Cadillac’s 2026 project
Karun Chandhok, who raced in Formula 1 in the past, expressed his interest in Cadillac’s ambitious project. The team has recruited experienced personnel from other Formula 1 teams and selected two drivers with several years of top-level racing experience. Despite this, Chandhok believes that Cadillac is unlikely to move far up the grid initially, due to its inexperience as a complete team and the highly competitive nature of the sport. The 2026 season will be the first in many years with 11 teams on the grid, and while the new regulations may bring some shifts, the American squad is currently seen as the underdog.
Shakedown and car launch
The Cadillac car made its first appearance during private tests in Barcelona last week. The team has planned an official livery launch for February 8, choosing to kick off their Formula 1 adventure in high-profile style with a television commercial aired during the Super Bowl, marking a significant marketing and promotional effort for their debut season.
During the shakedown in Spain, Cadillac encountered a number of minor but expected issues, demonstrating just how much work remains to be done before the official season starts. For this reason, Karun Chandhok does not anticipate that Cadillac will be fighting for competitive positions in its first year. In his view, simply making it into Q2 would already count as a major achievement for the fledgling team.
Chandhok highlights the technical team
Speaking about Cadillac’s personnel strategy, Karun Chandhok emphasized that the team has recruited heavily from other established teams, particularly from Enstone. “The Cadillac project is in a very interesting position. They have brought in so many people from other teams, many from Enstone, to be precise,” Karun Chandhok explained. “Nick Chester and Rob White serve as technical leads, while Pat Simmons is acting as technical advisor—everyone has experience from Enstone, and there has been a real exodus of talented staff joining Cadillac.”
He continued by stressing the story behind the recruitment: “It is one of the narratives I’m most intrigued by this year. Just to see if they can make it out of Q1 in the opening races of the season. Honestly, if they manage that in the first quarter of the season—or even reach Q2—it would already be an incredible result.”
Driver lineup for the first seasons
Cadillac has opted for a conservative but pragmatic approach by choosing two experienced Formula 1 drivers for their debut season: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, both of whom will return to the grid in 2026. Chandhok stressed that this decision is sensible, citing the examples of Aston Martin and Williams to illustrate how challenging it can be for a new team to achieve immediate success in Formula 1.
“The approach taken by Cadillac is not risky or avant-garde, but I believe it is the right path,” Chandhok added. “There are so many variables involved in launching a new team. It is extremely difficult to enter Formula 1 as a completely new team because the level of every existing team is already very high.”
He went on to underline the competitiveness of the current grid: “Look at teams like Aston Martin and Williams—both are fantastic outfits, yet they struggled to get their cars on track during the Barcelona tests. Every team is operating at an exceptionally high level, which makes it very hard for a newcomer to immediately challenge them.”
Realistic expectations for 2026
Karun Chandhok therefore suggests that Cadillac’s 2026 debut will be a story to watch more for progress than for immediate race results. Simply navigating through Q1 in their first season would already count as a success, while reaching Q2 would be considered extraordinary. With experienced drivers, a knowledgeable technical team, and a well-structured plan, Cadillac is aiming for steady development, learning, and adaptation as they take their first steps into Formula 1’s fiercely competitive environment.
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