What engine for GM/Cadillac Racing for its arrival in 2026?
Cadillac Racing, which is part of General Motors, is about to become the 11th Formula 1 team. From 2026, the first car of the American team will participate in a Grand Prix. With which engine supplier will General Motors team up with?
The official announcement of the arrival of General Motors/Cadillac in F1 for 2026 has definitely surprised everyone. General Motors confirmed its intention to become an engine supplier for the Andretti Global team starting in 2028. It is Cadillac Racing that could ultimately represent General Motors on the grid, sooner than expected.
A challenge persists: the engine
General Motors will not have its own operational engine before 2028. To address this issue, as of 2026, Cadillac will have to turn to an already existing supplier. Speculations surrounding Cadillac Racing’s engine supplier should soon be clarified, as the team prepares for its entry into Formula 1.
Andretti Global, a partner of Cadillac Racing, had initially considered a collaboration with Renault, but this option is now abandoned. Indeed, Renault recently announced its withdrawal as an F1 engine manufacturer, making way for Mercedes engines for its Alpine team in 2026.
Mercedes, already supplying engines to Alpine, McLaren, Williams, and their own factory team from 2026, also seems unlikely. A fifth team would pose difficult technical and logistical challenges to overcome.
On its part, Ferrari prioritizes its own needs as well as those of Haas, its only current customer. No indication suggests a willingness to expand its client portfolio.
Honda: the logical choice?
The most plausible solution remains Honda. From 2026, Honda will already be the engine partner of Aston Martin, but will not have any other commitment in F1. Moreover, a collaboration between General Motors and Honda would be coherent, as these two companies share a long history of partnerships in other automotive sectors.
The rules of Formula 1 could also favor this scenario. If a team is left without an engine, the manufacturer with the fewest customers may be forced to supply one. With Aston Martin as its only customer, Honda therefore emerges as an obvious choice.
Audi: the least likely option
Audi, who will join the grid in 2026 with its own engine, could represent an alternative. However, the German brand has so far indicated that it wants to focus exclusively on its partnership with Sauber, making a collaboration with Cadillac Racing unlikely unless forced to by the FIA.
The choice of the engine supplier for Cadillac Racing will be crucial to ensure its successful entry into Formula 1. While Honda appears as the most logical candidate, the ongoing discussions could hold surprises. One thing is certain: General Motors seems determined to make a significant entrance, whether accompanied by its own engine or not.
