Here’s one for the record books: General Motors’ Cadillac will enter Formula 1 in 2026—and they’ve just locked in an A-list driver pairing: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio “Checo” Pérez. That’s 500+ starts, 16 wins, and a mountain of setup and development experience walking into a brand-new outfit on Day 1. Cadillac was formally cleared as F1’s 11th team earlier this year and made the driver news official today.
Why this is huge
- Instant credibility. Launching a new F1 team is Everest. Signing two race-winners who’ve gone wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton and Verstappen gives Cadillac a stable, data-rich foundation to build from.
- GM’s global play. With Cadillac branding up front, GM isn’t dipping a toe—they’re diving in. Factory backing plus a veteran lineup signals a long-term, serious program.
- The development edge. New chassis + new 2026 regs = a thousand decisions a day. Bottas’s car-feel and Pérez’s race craft should accelerate correlation between sim, wind tunnel, and track.
What it means for the 2026 grid
Expect Cadillac to spend Year 1 building reliability, pit-wall rhythm, and upgrade cadence. Do I think they’ll be hunting podiums out of the box? That’s a tall order—but two drivers who know how a top team operates can shorten the learning curve and prevent the rookie mistakes that normally sink new entrants.
Meanwhile… F1 is back from summer break at Max’s home race
Mark your calendar: after the month-long summer shutdown, the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort kicks off this weekend—Verstappen’s home race and one of the most electric atmospheres on the calendar. If you love orange smoke and banked corners, this is your jam.
PS: If you’re new here, I write fast, fun motorsport takes with a Woody-Buchman edge. More on woodybuchman.com—and if you’re a Cadillac believer (or skeptic), tell me: where do you realistically place them in the ’26 constructors’ standings after Abu Dhabi?
