F1 2026: Audi and Cadillac Join the Grid and Open a New Chapter

As the 2025 season reaches its final stretch with the last three Grands Prix ahead, attention is already shifting toward 2026, a year that will mark a major turning point for Formula 1. Two new manufacturers will join the championship: Audi and Cadillac. Their arrival promises to reshape the competitive landscape and bring fresh energy to the sport.

Audi in Formula 1: A Structured Project for 2026

Audi has nothing left to prove in the world of motorsport. Rallying, endurance racing, Formula E… the brand has succeeded everywhere it has competed. The next step is now Formula 1, widely regarded as the ultimate challenge.

To enter the championship, Audi is relying on an existing structure within the paddock: the current Kick F1 Team, formerly known as Sauber, based in Switzerland. The German manufacturer is preparing a gradual transition to turn this team into a true factory outfit by 2026.

To lead the project, Audi has surrounded itself with highly experienced figures.

Mattia Binotto, who spent more than twenty-five years at Ferrari, will take charge of the technical department and oversee the development of Audi’s future F1 cars. Alongside him, Jonathan Wheatley, recently appointed team principal, brings expertise gathered notably during his time at Red Bull.

On the driver side, Audi is already building the future. Nico Hülkenberg will join Sauber in 2025 before switching to Audi the following year. He will be paired with Gabriel Bortoleto, a 20-year-old Brazilian talent already considered one of the most promising young drivers on the current ladder.

Cadillac: A New American Team on the Grid

Another major addition in 2026 will be the arrival of a new American team, launched by General Motors under the Cadillac brand. Announced at the end of 2024, this entry will expand the grid to eleven teams.

Until now, Haas was the only non-European team in Formula 1. Cadillac will change that dynamic by joining the grid in partnership with Andretti Global, a major force in IndyCar and other American racing series. This collaboration aims to create a team with a distinctly American identity — both in spirit and in structure.

Initially, Cadillac’s cars will be powered by Ferrari engines. However, the FIA has approved General Motors’ plan to develop and introduce its own power unit starting in 2029, with the ambition of becoming an official engine supplier before 2030.

To lay solid foundations, Cadillac has chosen an experienced and reliable driver lineup:

• Valtteri Bottas, a ten-time Grand Prix winner
• Sergio “Checo” Pérez, a six-time winner and one of the most popular drivers on the grid

A duo capable of providing strong technical feedback and valuable stability during the team’s first seasons.

As the 2025 season comes to an end, fans are already looking ahead to what comes next. The arrival of Audi and Cadillac promises new storylines, fresh rivalries, and the potential reshaping of the competitive order.