Cadillac, the incoming eleventh Formula 1 team, has refuted suggestions that its early start on 2026 car development will provide a significant competitive edge.
Set to join the grid in 2026 with customer Ferrari engines—before transitioning to works General Motors power units in 2029—the Andretti-affiliated team is crafting its debut car at a new F1 facility near Silverstone.
The team has also secured wind tunnel testing at Toyota's Cologne facility, previously used by McLaren.
Unlike the established ten teams, which were restricted from beginning 2026 car development until January 2025, Cadillac faced no such limitations due to delays in its official confirmation as an F1 entrant.
"We've been in the wind tunnel with the 2026 model the longest," Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon acknowledged. However, he cautioned, "We can't verify how well the data correlates. We don't have a car on the racetrack with which we can repeatedly compare our results."
While some rival teams have expressed concerns about Cadillac's extended development window, Lowdon dismissed the notion of a substantial advantage with a wry smile, telling Auto Motor und Sport, "I'm offering all the other teams the opportunity to swap their current development status with our data. I'm sure no one would accept that deal."
