Cadillac F1 recruits former Audi project leader Adam Baker

©CadillacF1

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Cadillac has strengthened its Formula 1 push by recruiting Adam Baker, the former head of Audi’s F1 programme, as the American outfit gears up for its maiden season on the grid in 2026.

According to reports from Germany, Baker – who parted ways with Audi last spring – has been appointed to a senior role with Grand Prix racing’s 11th enetrant.

His main responsibility will be to oversee the team’s developing power unit operation in Charlotte, North Carolina.

From Audi Sidelines to Cadillac's Power Core

Baker's tenure at Audi spanned four pivotal years, starting in 2021 as the project gained steam toward a full grid entry.

He played a central role in crafting the blueprint for Audi's F1 assault, but shifts in leadership—including the arrival of former Ferrari COO Mattia Binotto—led to his exit, with Christian Foyer stepping in to handle engine-side duties.

Former Audi F1 project leader Adam Baker. (©Audi)

Baker will now take the reins of Cadillac’s in-house engine operation that should come online in 2029 as part of a full factory set-up. In the interim, Cadillac will lean on Ferrari engines, giving Baker time to lay the groundwork amid whispers of regulatory twists.

F1's governing body is mulling an early exit from the 2026-2030 rulebook overhaul, potentially reviving V8 engines ahead of schedule – a shift that could upend plans for teams like Cadillac and Audi, which were both drawn to the sport's electrification push.

A Career Forged in F1's Engine Wars

Baker's résumé reads like a who's who of motorsport engineering. Kicking off over two decades ago at Cosworth, he dove headfirst into F1's engine battles.

By 2006, he was embedded with BMW as they acquired Sauber, navigating the highs and lows of that factory venture – which was wrapped up in 2009. His portfolio expanded beyond F1, touching Formula E and the World Endurance Championship, before a three-year stint as FIA safety director from 2018 sharpened his regulatory expertise.

With Cadillac building momentum and its leadership group taking shape, Baker’s arrival adds both credibility and experience, providing a steady hand to the GM-backed powerhouse.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.