Cadillac begins a new era in F1

After Audi’s splashy reveal in Munich, it’s now Cadillac’s turn to make waves in the Formula 1 world. The American automaker is quietly laying the groundwork for its 2026 debut as the sport’s 11th team—this time from Italy, with a blacked-out Ferrari and a familiar face behind the wheel: Sergio “Checo” Pérez.

Testing without a car... yet

Cadillac’s official F1 car won’t hit the track until January, but development has been underway for months in simulators. On Thursday, the team took a major step forward with real-world testing at Imola, where Checo suited up for two days of track time—not in a Cadillac, but in a Ferrari SF-23, a two-year-old model compliant with F1’s TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) regulations.

Because Cadillac doesn’t yet have a car built to current specs, they’ve partnered with Ferrari, their power unit supplier, to borrow a vehicle for late-2025 testing. The goal? Get Checo reacquainted with the physical demands of racing and begin translating simulator data into on-track performance.

A collaborative effort

According to Motorsport.com, the test involved around 30 Ferrari personnel and 20 from Cadillac, all working together to support Pérez, who is currently free of contractual obligations—unlike Valtteri Bottas, who remains tied to Mercedes as a reserve driver.

Countdown to 2026

Cadillac’s true F1 machine will make its debut in January 2026, with official testing scheduled for January 26–30 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. However, the team plans to hit the track even earlier, using the 200-kilometer “filming day” allowance permitted by F1 regulations to shake down the car in the first two weeks of the year.

Team Principal Graeme Lowdon confirmed to Motorsport.com that the first engine fire-up—powered by Ferrari—will happen before the end of 2025, likely by late December.

“Everything is planned,” Lowdon said. “We’ll fire up the engine in less than 50 days [from the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend], and the car will make its track debut in January. After that, we’ll join the Barcelona tests.”

Still under wraps

While Cadillac remains tight-lipped about the car’s final design and livery, the team is embracing the challenge ahead. “It’s a big undertaking,” Lowdon added, hinting at the scale of the project without revealing the new colors.

With Checo back in action and Cadillac pushing forward, the 2026 F1 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years.

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