The newcomers
The 2025 Formula 1 season has arrived, bringing with it great anticipation, a balance at the top, and surprising team changes. However, some in the paddock are already looking ahead to 2026. The true revolution will occur in just 12 months, not only with new regulations and the official entry of the Audi factory team but also with the return of an 11th team to the grid. Formula 1 hasn’t seen 22 cars on the grid since 2016, the final season of the ill-fated Manor team. Cadillac, backed by the full power of General Motors, is set to challenge the ten established teams.
The American team aims to do things right for its entry. It has opened a new factory in Silverstone, at the heart of Britain’s “motor valley,” secured Ferrari engines for at least two seasons, and brought on an experienced figure like Pat Symonds as a consultant. The former Benetton, Renault, and Williams engineer officially began his role on January 1 and shared a LinkedIn post about his new venture, also taking the opportunity to boost Cadillac’s ongoing engineer recruitment campaign.
An ambitious project
“This is an exciting challenge because, if the 2026 pre-season tests follow the 2014 schedule (when we had the last new power unit), we have less than 400 days until the car’s launch,” wrote Pat Symonds. Entering as a “rookie” in such a hyper-competitive environment as modern Formula 1 will not be easy, and reaching the top will take time. However, the British engineer is confident the new team has what it takes to excel: “From Le Mans to Talladega, from sports cars to stock cars, GM knows how to win. At the same time, since this is the pinnacle of motorsport, they understand the innovation and excellence required in Formula 1 and what it will take to build a team capable of replicating their success in other series.” – he pointed out.
“Our first Formula 1 car will use a Ferrari engine and transmission,” confirmed Pat Symonds, “while awaiting the development of the brand-new Cadillac power unit. Building a Formula 1 car is a challenging but well-documented task. The timelines and steps are clearly defined, and the team already has experienced personnel designing and developing the car. Meanwhile, we are building the infrastructure to support the challenge at our Silverstone headquarters. Starting with the proverbial ‘blank sheet’ offers far more opportunities than challenges. The team will be built not only to the highest engineering standards but also to the highest sustainability and social ethics standards to become the best team to work for in Formula 1. If you are looking for a challenge and can meet our high standards, take a look at our job openings and apply to join our adventure.” – the British motor racing engineer concluded.
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