F1 News: Stefano Domenicali assures Cadillac’s entry into F1 is near

It “should not be too long” before Formula 1 is finally ready to cement Cadillac’s place on the 2026 grid.

Following a long-running and acrimonious saga, and Michael Andretti stepping away from the project, Liberty Media finally declared last November that “an agreement in principle” had been reached with GM and Cadillac.

Then, in January, an FIA spokesperson said the governing body was “currently reviewing Cadillac’s entry” – and nothing has been heard since.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali declared this week that the process is finally now coming to an end.

“There is the formality that is related to the process that is almost ready,” he said.

“Together with the FIA there has to be an update and whenever this will be ready, there will be an update to formalise what basically has already happened. It should be not too long,” the Italian added.

“So they will be ready to fight against or together with the other teams for next year.”

Although FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was always a supporter of the eleventh F1 team from the beginning, F1 and the existing teams made no secret of their opposition.

However, Domenicali insists he is “very, very happy” that Cadillac will be on the grid.

“It’s important to clarify that position,” Domenicali began when asked about the initial resistance to the team’s entry.

“We always said that Cadillac is giving and will give an incredible boost to the ecosystem of Formula 1.

“We were referring to other situations that were handled before but now the picture is totally different.

“They are doing everything in order to show how Cadillac is really involved into the sport.”

“They will be ready to fight against or together with the other teams for next year,” Domenicali declared.

“And that is the evolution that GM’s Cadillac has taken; they want to be a real constructor or a manufacturer that will invest in our sport because they do believe in the technological platform that F1 can provide to their system.

“So very, very happy that now this is on board, moving forward, and looking forward to see them on the track together with the other teams to fight for a great championship.”

March 3, 2025

With the F1 season opener fast approaching, Stefano Domenicali has indicated that the F1 grid will expand next season with Cadillac, making the competition more fierce.

“There is the formality that is related to the process that [is] almost ready. Together with the FIA there has to be an update and whenever this will be ready, it should be not too long, there will be an update to formalize what basically has already happened. So they will be ready to fight against or together with the other teams for next year.” said Domenicali.

It is worth noting that it was Andretti who originally applied to be in F1 over two years ago; however, his bid was rejected by FOM multiple times before he got backed by Cadillac.

Domenicali has also backed Cadillac’s entry due to the value and the technological expertise they bring as a team. F1 will hope to exchange valuable information with Cadillac in regards to the performance of the cars.

“GM want to be a real constructor or a manufacturer that will invest in our sport because they do believe in the technological platform that the F1 can provide to their system,” he added. “So I’m very, very happy that now this is on board, moving forward, and looking forward to see them on the track together with the other teams to fight for a great championship.”

The biggest factor is the American audience that the new team will bring. While F1 is not unpopular in the USA, bringing Cadillac can only improve their current standing as a sport in the country. Bringing even more audience is better for F1’s revenue. An increase in revenue will make the prize pool bigger, allowing even more flexibility to Cadillac’s entry.