Cadillac’s Formula 1 team is making steady progress in preparing its 2026 contender, with team principal Graeme Lowdon confirming that development remains on track for the American outfit’s highly anticipated debut.
The General Motors-backed squad, set to become the first new constructor in F1 since Haas in 2016, is gearing up to compete with drivers Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, and test driver Colton Herta.
Lowdon provided a positive update on the team’s 2026 car, which is being built to comply with Formula 1’s new chassis and power unit regulations.
“The good news is it is coming along,” he told F1.com. “It's on schedule. We are currently laying up the first two race chassis.”
The team has already completed critical milestones, including the construction of a prototype chassis used for rigorous testing.
“We built a prototype chassis some time ago and we use that chassis to do all of the equivalent FIA homologation tests,” Lowdon explained. “So, there's some very onerous squeeze tests and also the rather dramatic impact tests, which is quite a significant test.”
Building Confidence Through Testing
Cadillac’s proactive approach has positioned them ahead of the curve, with Lowdon noting that the team may be among the first to complete these essential tests.
“We've already built the prototype, went through all those tests. We are probably the first team that has done as well, because obviously the other teams have got learnings from their '25 cars and '24 cars and everything,” he said.
©SeanBullDesign
This early testing has bolstered the team’s confidence as they move forward with constructing the actual race chassis.
“We wanted to do that to give ourselves confidence that when we're building the race chassis, we've got a high degree of confidence that we should pass the homologation tests,” Lowdon added.
“But now we're actually laying up the actual race chassis and it's on schedule and it's really cool to see.”
A New Era for American Motorsport
Based across facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Silverstone, Cadillac’s F1 program is led by Lowdon and CEO Dan Towriss, with experienced figures like chief technical officer Nick Chester and executive engineering consultant Pat Symonds guiding the technical efforts.
The team will initially rely on Ferrari engines and gearboxes before transitioning to a full works team in 2029.
As Cadillac prepares to join the F1 grid, Lowdon’s update underscores the team’s commitment to entering the championship with a competitive edge, blending American ambition with global expertise.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
