In Miami, Cadillac and Ford experienced a historic moment for American motorsport, facing each other for the first time on United States soil in the Formula 1 championship, with approximately 80 million viewers tuning in worldwide. Ford, as a Red Bull partner, saw Max Verstappen start from the front row and finish in 5th place after an intense battle with Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari. Further back, Cadillac drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas finished 16th and 18th respectively, confirming for the third consecutive race that both cars reached the finish line.
Statements from Ford and GM
Will Ford, GM of Ford Racing and son of chairman Bill Ford, stated in the Miami paddock: “It was the right time for us to return to the sport. F1 remains the pinnacle of motorsport and automotive innovation. We obviously have a very proud history in Formula 1.”
Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Racing, added: “Part of our decision to return was choosing how to come back. The partnership with Red Bull on the power unit was fundamental, because we know they are winners… and they will continue to win championships.”
Rushbrook also highlighted the importance of Max Verstappen: “Having Max Verstappen behind the wheel definitely helps us. His ability to analyse every detail of every lap energises the entire team.”
Mark Reuss, president of General Motors, expressed great satisfaction: “One year later, we have a car, a few races behind us, and the team is working. I could not be more proud. It is a truly exciting moment.”
Reuss emphasised the value of experienced drivers: “It is an important thing. You need both human experience and mathematical simulations to bring updates every weekend. We rely heavily on Checo and Valtteri for their experience, especially at tracks where we have never raced before, like Miami.”
The strong focus on V8 engines and the regulatory future
The current season is marked by significant regulatory changes, with power units making races more complex and overtaking often difficult, to the point that several drivers, such as Lando Norris, have criticised the current format, comparing it to an expensive version of Mario Kart.
This dissatisfaction has generated strong support for a return to V8 engines powered by synthetic fuels, in order to meet Formula 1’s sustainability goals. This prospect sounds like music to the ears of Detroit manufacturers, as Cadillac and Ford are historically synonymous with powerful, high-performance V8 engines. With the next major regulatory overhaul approaching, V8 engines are firmly on the table for discussion.
Mark Rushbrook stated: “It is good to see that the FIA and Formula 1 are already talking about the next regulations. We are a stakeholder in the sport and we will share our point of view. But certainly, as a company that produces many naturally aspirated V8 engines, we would like to see them here.”
Mark Reuss was equally enthusiastic: “I love V8 engines and the sound they produce. But we are very respectful, as one of the newest teams, of the investments made in hybrid V6 engines. So if Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams decide to switch to V8s, we will be ready.”
Ford and General Motors see this possible return to V8 engines as a perfect opportunity to highlight their heritage of performance and innovation.
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