Ferrari tweaks Cadillac power unit statement with subtle change likely to please F1 officials
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Cadillac to Enter F1 with Ferrari Power in 2026 Amid Strategic Shifts in the Grid
Ferrari confirmed on Tuesday that Cadillac will use their power units when they join Formula 1 in 2026. This move aligns with expectations following Cadillac's agreement to enter the sport, marking a significant partnership between the luxury American brand and the iconic Italian team.
Ferrari is one of five manufacturers building engines for the new F1 era, alongside Mercedes, Honda, Red Bull Powertrains, and Audi. Mercedes, already supplying McLaren, Williams, and now Alpine, has reached capacity, leaving no room for new partners.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin has teamed up with Honda, with Lawrence Stroll potentially wary of losing exclusivity in that arrangement. F1 could have mandated Honda to power Cadillac, but Ferrari willingly stepped in to secure the deal instead.
The Scuderia will continue supplying Haas through 2028, even as the American team forges a technical partnership with Toyota. However, Sauber is departing Ferrari's fold as they transition to becoming Audi's works team. Audi, building an engine rumored to be exceptionally powerful, lacks the capacity to supply other teams for now. The same holds true for Red Bull Powertrains, which remains focused on its own cars and junior team.
For Cadillac's parent company, General Motors, this is a stepping stone. GM aims to develop its own F1 power unit by 2028, but until then, Cadillac will operate as a Ferrari customer team.
Ferrari Removes 'Andretti' Reference from Cadillac Announcement
Ferrari's original announcement described a "multi-year agreement with Andretti Formula Racing," which raised eyebrows. General Motors is reportedly dropping the Andretti name in favor of branding the team as 'Cadillac-Ferrari' or something similar, leveraging Cadillac's prestige in global markets.
This rebranding aims to ease concerns among current F1 teams that an 11th entrant would dilute the prize money without adding sufficient value. Veteran commentator Martin Brundle even told Red Bull's Christian Horner to stop complaining about reduced earnings.
However, RaceFans journalist Keith Collantine noted via BlueSky that Ferrari later issued a revised statement omitting any mention of Andretti, referring only to Cadillac. Collantine speculated that this change better aligns with Formula One Management's preferences.
Driver Market Speculation Around Cadillac's 2026 Entry
With Mario Andretti serving as an advisor, Cadillac is expected to retain Andretti's Silverstone facility and personnel. The promise of Ferrari power and the team's elevated branding could attract top driver talent for their debut season.
Yet, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Yuki Tsunoda won't be among the candidates. Yuki Tsunoda's future remains uncertain as Honda prepares to sever ties with Red Bull, but his focus is likely on securing a spot alongside Max Verstappen.
Sergio Perez, should he lose his Red Bull seat, emerges as a potential option for Cadillac. Having started his career in Ferrari-powered machinery with Sauber in 2011, the Mexican’s experience could make him an appealing choice for the new team.
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