Now, here is a milestone that points directly to the future: according to Autosport, Cadillac has officially revealed that its brand-new Formula 1 engine factory will open its doors on 18 December. The power unit plant is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, following General Motors' approval by the FIA as a power unit supplier starting from the 2029 season.
General Motors president Mark Reuss made the announcement during a conference at the Autosport Business Exchange in New York, noting that the facility's arrival is coming together really well. That gives the manufacturer a couple of years to design its own power unit, though the timeline carries an intriguing twist. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has committed to Formula 1 switching back to V8 engines—potentially running on sustainable fuel with a smaller share of electric power—by 2031, or possibly even 2030. If that shift happens, GM’s bespoke powertrain might only get one or two seasons in action.
Both of these gentlemen in the race for us do that, and they really understand what it takes and the process,
In the meantime, the squad's maiden campaign has proven to be a proper test of patience. Cadillac is currently the only outfit yet to score a point in 2026, and their MAC-26 machine has qualified slowest of all at the last four rounds.
"You know, we’re not here to finish last, so we’ve got to follow through and build this team, build the powertrain and build the car, like we did in GTP," Reuss said. He added that the endeavor takes time because it is a domain where they have never raced before, requiring the right engineers and drivers in a process that is logarithmic rather than linear.
Fortunately, the team has turned to veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to steer through the turbulence, even as they record some of the toughest results of their careers. Reuss praised their professionalism, noting their ability to move on from unfortunate days and drive for perfection.
"Both of these gentlemen in the race for us do that, and they really understand what it takes and the process," Reuss said. "I'm very, very happy that they're patient with us, to be honest; that takes a special person."
