Cadillac has revealed that its Formula 1 engine factory will open on 18 December. General Motors was approved by the FIA in 2025 as a power unit supplier from the 2029 season onwards, prompting the construction of new F1 engine facilities at the manufacturer's base in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"We're opening our whole engine factory, if you will, in Charlotte, North Carolina on 18 December," General Motors president Mark Reuss announced at the Autosport Business Exchange in New York. "So that's coming really well."
General Motors now has another couple of years to design its own power unit, though the timing may be suboptimal. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has committed to F1 switching back to V8 engines, potentially running on sustainable fuel with a smaller share of electric power, by 2031. In that case, GM's powertrain would get two seasons in action at best, or possibly just one if the switch is brought forward to 2030.
In the meantime, Cadillac is running customer Ferrari power units, and the team's maiden season has been tricky so far. It is the only outfit yet to score a point in 2026, and the MAC-26 has qualified slowest of all at the last four rounds. Reuss said the team is "not here to finish last" and must build the powertrain and car, as it did in GTP. "It's logarithmic, it's not linear," he added.
Veteran drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have brought valuable experience, though both are recording their worst career results. Reuss praised their patience, saying, "That takes a special person."
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing