Formula One are set to add an 11th team to the grid for the 2026 season, with Cadillac, a division of American car manufacturer General Motors, expected to join the premier motorsport circuit.
It is understood that Cadillac and those involved in the bidding process have ‘achieved operational milestones’ that has indicated their commitment to establishing the new venture, despite large opposition from other teams around the grid.
The move, which had initially been led by Andretti, was rejected in January. Andretti is owned by ex-Formula One driver Michael Andretti, the son of Mario Andretti. While the Andretti name has been dropped from the bid, Mario is still involved in the project.
‘Formula One announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the 11th team to the Formula One grid in 2026,’ a statement from a Formula One spokesperson said on Monday.
‘Formula One has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula One in January 2024.’
The news, which came just 48 hours after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, has got many motorsport fans talking about who could potentially race for the new American-owned team in 2026.
Daniel Ricciardo could be given a lifeline back into F1, according to reports, as Cadillac is set to become a new team on the grid in 2026
They will be the 11th team on the Grid, after F1 bosses rubber-stamped their proposed entry
According to The Nightly, the new team could provide Daniel Ricciardo with an ‘opportunity to revise his driving career’.
The Aussie driver had been sacked by Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, following the Singapore Grand Prix.
The 35-year-old racing driver was shown the door following his indifferent performances this season. Ricciardo’s highest finish came in June at the Canadian Grand Prix where he finished eighth in the standings.
He would go on to finish 18th in Singapore, prompting Red Bull bosses to make a brutal decision to axe the fan favourite.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had also implied that VCARB had given Ricciardo a second chance.
‘He himself was informed in good time and – to put it in his own words – he is at peace with himself. I also think that the fastest race lap he set was a worthy farewell performance,’ he wrote in his column for SpeedWeek.
‘He was given a second chance that nobody else would have given him.
‘And this was done on the premise that a return to Red Bull Racing is possible if his performance is up to scratch. The Racing Bulls team was therefore only ever intended as a stopover.’
The Aussie driver had been sacked by Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, following the Singapore Grand Prix
It came after Ricciardo had endured a tough year on track, with his highest race finish coming at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he placed eighth
Reflecting on his performances, Marko had given an honest appraisal of the Aussie driver’s form, stating that he had lost his ‘killer instinct’.
‘But apart from that, the speed wasn’t there and the consistency wasn’t there either. The whole performance that would have justified a promotion to Red Bull Racing was missing. But that was the purpose of the whole thing,’ Marko said.
He added: ”But [Ricciardo’s] same killer instinct was simply no longer recognisable. He was famous for his uncompromising overtaking, for braking at the last point. But that was no longer the case either.’
Speculation has mounted that Singapore could have been the last time we see Ricciardo in a Formula One car.
He was recently pictured on Instagram wearing a cap that had the message: ‘I’m retired, having a good time is my job.’
In September, he had stated that he ‘has a good idea’ that he may have driven his last race in F1.
When asked whether Singapore was his last race, he told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Possibly, possibly, yeah. So if it is, I guess a nice way to say adios.’
He added: ‘I am not too sure what the plan is, but I mean, look, I’ve obviously got a good idea.’
Ricciardo has not spoken on what’s in store in the future but has been touted with a move to race in Australia’s Super Cars competition
Despite that, the Australian would be a great addition to the Cadillac team, given his experience.
Ricciardo has entered 258 races in his career, winning eight while amassing 32 podium finishes.
He could have plenty of new career options landing at his doorstep.
The ever-charismatic driver could pursue a career in broadcasting, while some have also tried to coax him to join other motorsport competitions, including a shot at taking on Australia’s Bathurst 1000 race.
