Cadillac is officially joining Formula 1 in 2026, marking the first new team to enter the high-stakes world of F1 racing in ten years.
It’s a big deal for American racing fans. The iconic car manufacturer will partner with racing legend Mario Andretti, bringing some serious star power to the grid.
Red Bull Racing’s Helmut Marko thinks having Cadillac in F1 is great for the sport’s image. But there’s a catch.
The existing teams aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet. The main issue? Money.
Right now, F1’s massive revenue gets split between ten teams. Adding Cadillac means everyone’s slice of the pie gets a little smaller – even with the $450 million entrance fee they’ll have to pay.
“That payment doesn’t come close to what we’ve invested over the past decade,” Marko explained. He’s talking about the billions current teams have poured into developing their cars and technology.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been particularly vocal about his concerns, making his feelings clear during the Las Vegas race weekend.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
“A name like Cadillac, with General Motors backing them up, is definitely an asset for Formula 1,” Marko admitted. Having one of America’s most famous car brands join the grid could help F1 grow even bigger in the United States.
The move comes as F1’s popularity is soaring in America, with three U.S. races now on the calendar and viewership numbers hitting record highs.
