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Cadillac’s proposed Formula 1 entry is now in the final stages of approval by the FIA and a decision is expected "in weeks", The Race can reveal.
Late last year, F1 announced that it had reached an ‘agreement in principle’ with General Motors to support its bid to enter F1 in 2026 under the Cadillac brand.
This was a revamped proposal from the previous Andretti Global effort that had been denied the sign off on commercial terms by F1, despite having been given an original green light by the FIA.
The change of heart by F1 was prompted by GM’s increased commitment to the project, the exit of previous chief Michael Andretti and the potential complications being caused from a US federal investigation into the matter.
FOM’s move to support the GM plans was not a full confirmation of its entry, however, as the manufacturer still needed to go back through a formal process with motor racing’s governing body.
This required the FIA to review the Cadillac proposal on the same grounds that the original Andretti plan had, and check that it fulfilled the various criteria laid down to ensure that the team was up to standard.
That evaluation process is now nearing an end and, once Cadillac gets the final sign off from the FIA, it will then still have to finalise commercial terms with FOM.
But based on the fact that F1 has been so supportive of the revamped project, this is likely to be a formality.
Speaking about the latest on the Cadillac situation, an FIA spokesperson told The Race: “The FIA is currently reviewing the Cadillac entry. We are in the final stages of due diligence and hope to conclude the process soon.
“We are working collaboratively and simultaneously with FOM to ensure the successful integration of an 11th team into the championship.”
When asked about a timeframe for the decision, the FIA said: “We are in the final steps of this process, and we anticipate reaching a resolution within a matter of weeks.”
Cadillac has appointed former Marussia F1 boss Graeme Lowdon as its new team principal and has been recruiting heavily to bolster its technical personnel.
It was recently boosted by the arrival of the experienced F1 technical chief Pat Symonds as a consultant, and work is advancing at its Silverstone base on the 2026 project.
