When Cadillac scored its official Formula 1 spot for 2026, most folks had no clue just how massive – or how bold – this project really was. But now? The doors are cracking open on what might be America’s gutsiest F1 move ever.
This isn’t just about building race cars. Cadillac’s calling it a full-blown mission – and they’re not shy about comparing it to NASA’s legendary Apollo program.
From 3 to 600: Almost Overnight
Imagine this: Just last year, Cadillac’s F1 dream was basically a sketch on a napkin, run by a tiny team of three. Fast forward to today? Nearly 600 engineers, designers, and crew are burning the midnight oil to get ready for their first race down under in 2026.
Graeme Lowdon, a seasoned F1 pro (ex-Marussia boss) now steering this ship, gave us a peek behind the curtain. And wow, it’s wild.
“We’re about two-thirds of the way there on staffing,” he shared. “By race day 2026, we’ll need around 600 people. And yeah, we’re hauling.”
Spread Across the Pond (and the Midwest)
While Cadillac’s permanent F1 home is still rising in Fishers, Indiana, the real action right now is buzzing just across the street from Silverstone – F1’s historic heartland in the UK.
Inside six pretty ordinary-looking grey buildings, they’re literally crafting their first F1 machines. Think:
- UK Tech Hub (Brains)
- UK Production (Brawn)
- UK Logistics (Getting Stuff There)
- Plus a dedicated machine shop (Making the Bits)
Eventually, Fishers will become the main factory, tapping into top US engineering talent and Cadillac’s deep GM roots. But starting from zero? It’s a beast.
“We’ve already cranked out 6,000 design drawings and made 10,000 parts,” Lowdon said. “Oh, and this week? Signed up 30 new suppliers alone.”
Data on a Moon Mission Scale
Even the tech numbers are mind-blowing:
- 425 laptops handed out
- 6,000+ IT orders filled
- 5 PETABYTES of CFD airflow data already simulated (Yeah, that’s 5 million GB – like half of Netflix’s entire catalog!)
And get this: “They’re storing all that on systems that literally didn’t exist a minute ago,” Lowdon added. “They’re building the plane while flying it.”
Running It Like Mission Control
To keep teams synced across the UK, Indiana, Charlotte, and Michigan, Cadillac tossed out the old corporate rulebook. Instead, they’re running a flat, fast-talking setup straight out of NASA’s mission control during the Apollo days.
“It’s not about who reports to who,” Lowdon explained. “It’s mission control. Engineers here need to chat directly with engineers in the U.S., no red tape. Zero bottlenecks.”
For F1? That’s revolutionary. But it might be the only way to pull off something this huge, this fast, across an ocean.
Why Betting on America is Smart
Basing the long-term ops in Indiana isn’t just flag-waving. It’s strategy. Cadillac’s tapping into a massive US talent pool that F1’s mostly ignored.
“People think F1 only lives in Europe,” Lowdon noted. “But hello? The U.S. put people on the moon. The engineering here is top-tier.”
Silverstone grabs the F1 veterans now, but Fishers? That’s where Cadillac’s heart will be – pure American ambition.
The Big Unknowns: Who’s Driving?
Okay, the million-dollar question: Who’ll be behind the wheel in 2026?
Rumors are flying – names like Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes backup) or even Sergio Pérez (last raced in ’24) get tossed around. But nothing’s set.
“We know who’s out there,” Lowdon said. “But when you’re building something this huge, drivers come later.”
Meanwhile, Cadillac’s cooking up its own GM power unit, split between Michigan and Charlotte.
More Than Just a New Team
From the outside, it might look like just another squad joining the grid. But inside? This feels different.
It’s a moonshot. Cadillac’s chance to prove that an American team, built the American way, can take on the giants of global racing.
And if that NASA spirit holds? This isn’t just a debut. It could be the start of something legendary.
