Cadillac's application to join 2026 grid was approved last week — meaning the new team now has work to do in the driver market.

The Cadillac Formula 1 team will run the majority of its project out of its new facility in Indiana, but will only select an American driver as part of its line-up if they earn their place on

Lowdon explained that regardless of nationality, the Cadillac F1 Team's maiden drivers will be hired on merit.

The FIA and Formula One Management announced the approval based on GM's meeting all required terms. The post FIA and Formula One approve Cadillac as 11th F1 team for 2026 season appeared first on The Manual.

Cadillac 's team principal Graeme Lowdon has suggested that the driver lineup will feature an American driver based on merit, since Formula One 's new team is based in the US. The comments arrive after Cadillac was confirmed as the sport's eleventh team on March 7, with the outfit gearing up to race from the 2026 season.

Dutch pundit Jack Plooij, speaking on Ziggo Sport, suggested George Russell could claim the second seat, particularly if Max Verstappen displaces the Briton at Mercedes. Meanwhile, Aston Martin simulator driver Dani Juncadella argued that overlooking Indycar standout Alex Palou for a Cadillac seat would be an extreme mistake.

A General Motors-backed Cadillac entry will become Formula One's 11th team next year after securing formal approval from the commercial rights holders and governing FIA on Friday.

Cadillac’s new Formula One team has received final approval from F1 and its governing body, the FIA, to join the grid in 2026. In November, F1 announced it had agreed in principle to allow General Motors, the American car giant, to race from next year with its Cadillac brand, provisionally expanding the field to 11 teams.

US car giant General Motors has had its Formula 1 entry for the 2026 season formally approved. It will name the new team after its luxury Cadillac brand. The decision to approve GM's bid comes just over two months after the company reached an agreement in principle with F1 to enter the sport next year.

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team is confirmed to join the grid next year following a final approval from the FIA and Formula One Management last week. While the announcement that Cadillac would join F1 came late last year, the FIA and Formula One Management had to confirm that the team met the requirements to join the existing grid.

Cadillac’s Formula 1 team has received official approval to join the grid in 2026 and its owners insist the team will be ready to compete.