American carmaker General Motors has created a new engine company in preparation for a potential entry into Formula One.
GM does agreement in principle will start in F1 in 2026 with a new team named after the luxury brand Cadillac, in cooperation with the American group TWG Global.
GM says it is creating a specialized engine manufacturing company, called GM Performance Power Units, to build the engine the team will ultimately use.
The statement said the company would “put Cadillac on the path to becoming a ‘full factory’ team – building F1 vehicles and powerplants – by the end of the decade.”
The exact year of the GM F1 engine’s debut was not announced.
Cadillac will use Ferrari customer engines from its debut next year until its own engine is ready for use.
GM said testing of prototype F1 engine technology has already begun at its motorsports technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in 2026 it will open a dedicated facility nearby for the F1 engine program.
Russ O’Blenes, head of GM’s motorsports propulsion and performance team, will be chief executive of the new company.
Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports, said: “We are delighted to welcome Russ to this key role. His knowledge and leadership will be instrumental as we lay the foundations for Cadillac’s F1 journey.
“Together with team principal Graeme Lowdon, they will lead the team in setting new standards of performance and innovation in the sport.”
