Cadillac Formula 1 team has already hit its first hurdle. Despite having the joint-highest aerodynamic development allocation in 2025, its work is no longer ‘unrestricted’ as of January 1st, 2025. The American brand, operating under General Motors’ umbrella, is aiming to join F1’s grid as the 11th team from 2026 but is waiting for the final approval. However, what little head start the team had seems to have been taken away, and the challenge ahead is looking monumental.

General Motors’ Cadillac branded entry has been full of controversy. With Mario Andretti being sidelined after attempting to enter Formula 1, the ‘replacement’ team has had to overcome plenty of hurdles to reach a breakthrough. However, the journey into the sport seems far from easy, and the real challenges have only just begun.

Cadillac faces an uphill task ahead of 2026 debut

Several factors seem to have worked in the Cadillac Formula 1 team’s favor. Mario Andretti’s exit, combined with General Motors’ commitment, as well as the US federal investigation into the rejection of Andretti’s original proposal has led to this juncture. As things stand, US-based billionaire Mark Walter, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and Chelsea Football Club is backing the project, while Dan Towriss is leading the charge and Graeme Lowdon has been confirmed as team principal.

With a structure in place, the team has been working on their 2026 Formula 1 car for several months now. So far, there have been no restrictions placed on the development because of the initial rejection of Mario Andretti’s entry. This meant that there was no cap on wind tunnel or CFD testing, and they were not subjected to the ban on 2026 aerodynamic testing, which other teams were forced to adhere to until January 1st, 2025. Moreover, the Cadillac had no budget restrictions either, although the size of their team naturally limited the amount of work that could be done.

However, as per recent developments, the Cadillac Formula 1 team will now face restrictions in terms of aerodynamic testing and will be treated as an ‘equal-last’ team in 2025. According to regulations, teams that finish lower down the grid can do more wind tunnel and CFD work, as F1 attempts to level the playing field and create more competitive races. This means that Cadillac will get 115% of the baseline amount, which on paper seems like a great advantage, but the reality couldn’t be more different.

As things stand, the Cadillac Formula 1 team has 280 full-time employees, with the majority working in the technical department, as designs can be most time-consuming. Unlike other teams, Cadillac doesn’t have a foundation to build on, which means everything will need to be built right from scratch, a situation that has been described as a “monumental task” by one team boss, who went on to say, “even if there was a small headstart, it will balance out very quickly.” However, while other teams will be focusing on the 2025 season, Cadillac can use all its resources for 2026, but that will only be an advantage if they have a team that can execute the task at hand effectively.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Cadillac Formula 1 team

It seems like the Cadillac Formula 1 team has made a smart decision. Knowing that the task at hand is too monumental, they have entered into a multi-year agreement with the sport’s most successful team, from 2026 onwards. Scuderia Ferrari will be supplying them with power units and gearboxes after entering into a technical collaboration, which means they have an established veteran within the sport lending its expertise to the newcomers. The decision seems to be a smart one, as Cadillac can now focus on other aspects of development while leaving a few key components to the Italian manufacturer.

Sharing his thoughts about the collaboration, Scuderia Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur said, “It’s great to see the commitment of another American team, backed by one of the most highly respected marques in the motor industry, at a time when Formula 1 is increasing in popularity in the United States. We are delighted therefore that we will be supplying the team with our power unit and gearbox as the basis of this technical collaboration.”

Meanwhile, the Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowden also expressed his faith in the collaboration, saying, “Choosing the right power unit partner is crucial, and we trust in Ferrari’s passion, excellence, and the exceptional capabilities of their people.” Initially, the Cadillac Formula 1 team intended to develop its power units but changed their plan after recognizing that they needed a reliable supplier for the first two years in the sport while they gained a foothold in the sport. After the team gets formal confirmation from the FIA about its place in Formula 1, their attention will switch to recruiting drivers for the 2026 season. Will they go for a combination of youth with experience? Time will tell.