‘Very good source’ has heard ‘whisper’ that Cadillac have taken big step towards F1

Follow us on Google Discover

Cadillac want to become the latest motoring giant to enter Formula 1. Andretti have partnered with the General Motors subsidiary in their efforts to join the grid.

F1’s commercial arm rejected Andretti’s application for the 2025 or 2026 season. Ostensibly, this was because of doubts over their competitiveness and, by extension, their capacity to add value to the sport.

The sport is far more favourable to the idea of Andretti joining as a General Motors works team. GM have announced plans to build an F1 power unit for 2028.

They have seen their rivals Ford agree a deal with world champions Red Bull. While Christian Horner’s outfit will develop their own engines, they will run with Ford badges.

Elsewhere, Audi have joined F1 by purchasing the Sauber team. They will make their debut at the beginning of the 2026 season.

And Toyota are also involved once again as part of a technical link-up with Haas. It’s clear that big-name manufacturers see the sport as an appealing proposition right now.

Cadillac have acquired IP for Renault’s unused 2026 engine

Renault are bucking the trend by reducing their investment in F1. They have decided to make Alpine a customer team from 2026.

Alpine are set to use Mercedes engines, even though their staff at Viry had already begun working on their revised power unit for the new regulations. There was a risk that this work would go to waste.

However, according to journalist Joe Saward, Cadillac have ‘recently acquired’ the intellectual property rights to Renault’s 2026 engine. This is based on a ‘whisper’ from a ‘very good source’.

This would strengthen the Andretti-Cadillac case even before GM’s power unit is ready. The data they have gathered from Viry could go a long way to ensuring respectable performance at the outset.

Cadillac have held talks with F1 teams in case Andretti bid fails

Andretti want to become the first new team to enter F1 since Haas in 2016. There has been talk that Andretti could look to buy Alpine outright, but they seem to be going in a different direction.

Haas are F1’s smallest team but they have been a worthy addition to F1, scoring 280 points in 184 races. With that foundation already in place, Toyota may try to buy Haas in the coming years.

There are signs that Cadillac and GM are eyeing a place in F1 with or without Andretti. Haas would have a prime candidate for a partnership before their Toyota deal.

Cadillac have held talks with multiple teams in case Andretti never receive the green light. They may have to attach themselves to an existing operation rather than forming a new one.