“We started after everyone else”: Cadillac discusses the obstacles of its F1 debut

By opting for a customer engine for 2026, Cadillac has managed to align a car operational on time, less than a year after the official green light from the F1 and the FIA. The eleventh team on the grid is currently making a promising start in the top category.

Formula 1 has succeeded in its gamble with the regulation changes initiated in 2026. By simplifying the engines – notably through the removal of the MGU-H, one of the two components of the electrical system – the sport has attracted a new engine manufacturer: General Motors. However, the American giant's engines will not be roaring on the F1 grid in 2026.

Having partnered with Cadillac, General Motors has a few extra years to develop what is still a complex engine. The group plans to field its first power units in 2029. Until then, Cadillac's Formula 1 cars will be powered by other engines. Classic Ferrari for sale.

While its competitors could draw on years, even decades, of experience, Cadillac was starting from scratch. A colossal challenge met by Graeme Lowdon's team, which recruited a large number of veterans of the sport, both in the driver's seat and behind the scenes. The result: the team was ready for the F1 Shakedown in Barcelona at the end of January and the first tests in Bahrain, from February 11th to 13th.

A path strewn with pitfalls

However, the team had to overcome significant obstacles, acknowledges Pat Symonds, consultant for the American team. We were able to start examining some of the changes to Regulation 2026 before the start of January [2025], but we were still guessing what some of those changes would be. »

Having started its preparations late, Cadillac also faced a major setback. We didn't have Pirelli tires to test in the wind tunnel, so we made our own. explains the British engineer. The other teams had contracts with Pirelli that allowed them to have ready-to-use tires from January 1st. We only received ours at the end of the month, and when we mounted them, their shape was different from what we had imagined. »

He continued: This meant we had to re-optimize many of the tracks we had been working on. Some people therefore think we started our development before others, but I would say we started after others. »

Unlike historical teams like Williams ou Aston MartinCadillac, however, met all its deadlines. A source of pride for Graeme Lowdon. What pleases me most is that we met all our deadlines. congratulates the British leader in Bahrain. We started the engine in early December. We went to the VTT (Virtual Test Track) in mid-December to carry out all the dyno tests, and we completed the shakedown at Silverstone on schedule. Finally, we were in Barcelona for the shakedown, also on schedule. »

Despite these challenges, the team can be satisfied with an encouraging start, having completed 320 laps during the first week of testing, which is more than Alpine (318) Mercedes Benz (282) and Aston Martin (206). Three additional days are scheduled from February 18 to 20 in Bahrain before the season kicks off on March 8 in Melbourne, Australia. While miracles shouldn't be expected in the first year, Cadillac's initial steps are very promising.

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