The arrival of Mario Andretti and Cadillac in the big circus that is Formula 1 has been a journey full of obstacles and very ambitious expectations. However, there is one drawback that could jeopardise their entire future in Formula 1. Nevertheless, and despite the progress made, the American team will face many difficulties in getting to the starting grid in 2026.
The risks that Cadillac must take
From the moment that its desire to enter Formula 1 was made official, the team of the American car manufacturer General Motors has had to deal with the opposition of some of its future rivals and intense scrutiny from the FIA, as well as from FOM (Formula One Management). Mario Andretti, the team’s director, has already made it clear that they are deeply committed to taking risks in order to achieve their goal of being ready to fight from the first race in 2026 at the highest possible level.
The team has already started working at its specific headquarters in Silverstone, under the direction of Graeme Lowdon, and has made key hires such as Pat Symonds. They have also been testing models in the wind tunnel at Toyota Colonia, thanks to the regulatory flexibility enjoyed by the new teams. However, the debate over the team’s initial competition status continues.
The key to competing from 2026
One of the major challenges facing Cadillac in its foray into Formula 1 is having a competitive engine. Initially they will be forced to use power units from Ferrari until they develop their own power unit planned for 2028. This is a sound approach, as it will allow them to devote all their efforts to building a single-seater that is competitive, without the pressure of developing their own power unit immediately.
However, the team has to be sure that its chassis and aerodynamics are up to par with those of the teams already on the current grid. With the limited budget of the new teams and the advantage of not being limited by the development ban that is in place before January 1, 2025, Mario Andretti is fully confident that they can close the gap with the more veteran teams.
The future of Cadillac in F1
The aspirations of Mario Andretti and the Cadillac brand in Formula 1 may depend on a fundamental decision: the full approval of the organization and the Formula 1 teams in operation. Although the FIA has already given its approval, the commercial entity of F1 has the final say on its entry as a team and on the distribution of the income to be received. Some of the teams are wary of the possibility of a new team entering, bearing in mind that their entry would mean less economic benefit for them.
If Cadillac and Mario Andretti can demonstrate that they will bring significant value to the approach and that their project is sustainable over the years, they are guaranteed a place on the grid without any problems, otherwise the dream of competing in Formula 1 could be seriously compromised.
Mario Andretti and Cadillac are taking steps in their project, presenting the driver lineup in the middle of this year 2025 and having a competitive team in the next year 2026, but the future of their team will depend on the challenges that still lie ahead.