Starting in 2026, the Formula 1 grid will not only feature cars built under new technical regulations but also a new team, Cadillac. Although the American outfit has yet to receive final approval from the FIA and FOM, a preliminary agreement has been reached in recent months that should bring Cadillac onto the grid as early as next year.
Meanwhile, the American company is working to prepare for its entry into F1, laying the foundations not only for car development but also for all the necessary infrastructure to operate on track and manage logistics.
For the first two years, the future Cadillac F1 car will be supported directly by Ferrari, which will supply both the Power Unit and the gearbox, potentially including the rear suspension as well. This would be a strategic choice, allowing a newly formed team that is still assembling its staff to focus on other aspects of the car.
Cadillac has stated that its goal is to develop its own Power Unit by the end of the decade, a timeline that appears intentionally vague to allow for flexibility. Initially, in its FIA registration process as a constructor, the target was set for 2028, meaning the team would rely on Ferrari engines for two seasons before making the transition.
In the meantime, Cadillac is already making significant investments to be ready for this challenge. In early January, TWG Motorsports and General Motors created a company dedicated to designing and producing the Power Units that will debut once the partnership with Ferrari ends.
But where will these Power Units be built? While the car’s chassis will be developed in Silverstone, UK—a strategic hub due to the high concentration of engineering talent, a factor that also led Sauber to establish a second base there—the engines will be designed in the United States.
Currently, the project is still in its early theoretical phase, meaning there is no immediate need for large facilities or dedicated logistics. This is why development is taking place at General Motors’ headquarters in Concord, where powertrains for other racing series are also produced. However, in the long run, a project of this scale will require a more advanced infrastructure.
To address this, Cadillac is planning an investment in Concord, North Carolina, to build a new facility that will serve as the base for its future F1 Power Unit project. Details of this plan were revealed in the agenda of an upcoming Concord City Council meeting, which outlines that construction could begin this year and be completed in early 2027, just in time for Cadillac’s F1 debut.
“Motorsport IP Acquisition, LLC [Cadillac] proposes to develop a site to support the Power Unit development for the Cadillac F1 vehicle. This project aims to develop and test an engine capable of meeting the rigorous performance and efficiency standards of Formula 1,” reads the Council’s agenda.
The cost for the land and building alone is estimated at around $65 million: “The building project includes high-quality construction valued at $65-70 million. The facility will be built with reinforced concrete walls, featuring glass and metal accents.”
“With an ambitious timeline, the goal is to have the engine ready for integration into a vehicle by 2028, ensuring a competitive debut for Cadillac in F1. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025 and be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2027.”
According to Council documents, Cadillac could invest an additional $75-85 million to make the facility fully operational for its F1 program, bringing the total investment to around $150 million. One of the key approval criteria for the project is its potential impact on the local economy, particularly in job creation.
As outlined in Cadillac’s proposal, the company could hire over 300 engineers, with an average annual salary ranging between $100,000 and $125,000.
Leave a Reply