The next steps for Cadillac’s formally confirmed F1 entry

The information that Formula 1 has rubber-stamped Cadillac’s entry into the championship for 2026 is a small however essential milestone for the Andretti-backed challenge, however what comes subsequent is way more vital.

The Normal Motors squad – which is able to begin out as a Ferrari buyer engine crew whereas it really works to construct its personal engine to make use of from the 2028 F1 marketing campaign – now has to clear a sequence of main steps in increase its crew to be prepared for its debut in grand prix racing.

Absolutely set up and hyperlink its F1 bases

The Cadillac challenge bears outstanding similarities at its present stage to F1’s present American squad: Haas.

Each groups have established race bases within the UK – with Cadillac based mostly in Silverstone alongside Aston Martin, with Haas down the street in Banbury. However they every have US headquarters too.

For Cadillac, that is its Efficiency Energy Models firm which will probably be opened in 2026 and can deal with constructing the crew’s first F1 engine.

The crew’s Silverstone base is already in operation, with its aerodynamics and mechanical design departments established for almost a 12 months throughout a number of massive buildings close to the house of the British GP.

Returning to the Haas comparability, Cadillac – helmed by crew principal Graeme Lowdon – might want to rigorously handle its communications throughout a number of websites based mostly on totally different continents.

Design and construct its 2026 automotive challenger

At one stage on this course of, Andretti was aiming for a 2025 F1 entry, which might’ve required constructing a automotive for the present guidelines earlier than the transfer to simplified engines and new chassis designs with extra moveable aerodynamic components from subsequent 12 months. That sophisticated plan was deserted when F1 initially rejected the challenge in early 2024, however Cadillac nonetheless has to nail the 2026 design course of.

Like the ten established F1 groups it is going to quickly be becoming a member of, it was unable to begin full-scale till 1 January 2025 – though scale mannequin wind tunnel work constructed to previous F1 design guidelines was permitted. However, not like its rivals, it doesn’t have to fret about balancing present automotive improvement assets with the longer term automotive challenge.

This will probably be of appreciable benefit by way of simplifying the method for Cadillac, however the crew nonetheless has to get its 2026 design proper if it needs to be aggressive. A lot of that potential can even be based mostly on how potent the brand new Ferrari energy unit is.

Absolutely rent and prep its race crew

Cadillac will want at the least 75 employees members to function two vehicles at every F1 occasion, with the crew needing to be totally drilled and skilled.

There may be scope for mechanics and engineers from present groups to maneuver to the brand new challenge and the crew has already employed a number of acquainted F1 names – together with Lowdon and Pat Symonds as an engineering advisor.

However for this explicit process, the crew is bolstered by its hiring of ex-Haas crew supervisor Peter Crolla, a well-liked member of the Haas operation for its first 10 seasons earlier than departing on the finish of final 12 months.

Graeme Lowdon within the Stake F1 Group KICK Sauber storage

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs

Signal its 2026 driver line-up

That is essentially the most high-profile facet of the method for Cadillac, given its entry is offering two further seats and will increase the probability of an American driver within the championship for the primary time since Logan Sargeant was dropped from Williams final 12 months.

Andretti International driver Colton Herta is the early favorite to be signed based mostly on his present crew’s shut hyperlinks to the challenge.

Many profitable IndyCar drivers corresponding to triple and reigning champion Alex Palou can even be within the body, in addition to ex-F1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. These two will probably be priceless to a brand new crew given their lengthy expertise with profitable squads Mercedes and Purple Bull respectively, with the latter additionally capable of convey sponsorship cash from the Mexican market the place GM is a serious participant.

One other ex-F1 racer and present IndyCar star – Marcus Ericsson – has been serving to Cadillac type its first F1 simulator.

However one driver understood to not be within the body is one-time Williams driver Jack Aitken, who presently races for the Motion Specific Cadillac squad in IMSA and Emil Frey Racing within the DTM, plus an outing set for this 12 months’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

Autosport understands Aitken considers his time as a single-seater racer to be over and, though he’d be open to serving to Cadillac gear up for F1 in a behind-the-scenes method like Ericsson, he’s totally concentrating on his sportscar exploits.

Colton Herta, Andretti International

Photograph by: Penske Leisure

Signal-off its F1 picture and messaging

By no means forgot F1 is about ‘win on Sunday, promote on Monday’ – even when for Haas which means promoting complicated machining instruments and never street vehicles.

Cadillac is due to this fact a way more conventional challenge on this regard and so will probably look to repeat its highly effective engine mantra deployed in IMSA and the World Endurance Championship – albeit by way of buyer crew operations in these instances.

Haas has resolutely deployed its place as ‘America’s F1 crew’, with extra livery tweaks at its dwelling races to focus on the declare it quickly received’t be capable of use completely.

It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how arduous Cadillac pushes such a message given the entire thought of getting into F1 is about gaining international visibility for an organization’s providing.