F1 | Cadillac lays the foundations for independence from Ferrari with major Power Unit investment. F1 | Cadillac plans a fully American future after Ferrari partnership.

Cadillac is targeting a fully American car after the expiration of its agreement with Ferrari in 2029.

From the 2026 season, Formula 1 will welcome a new entrant, bringing the grid to 22 cars. Cadillac, powered by Ferrari engines, is preparing to make its debut in the Circus. However, the long-term objective of the American manufacturer is clear: to part ways with the team from Maranello and begin producing a fully independent Formula 1 car within its own facilities.

The team is currently developing new infrastructure in the United States, as highlighted by executive technical consultant Pat Symonds. The squad led by Graeme Lowdon is entering Formula 1 with a long-term project and with the ambition to establish itself against rivals that boast decades more experience at the top level of the sport.

The agreement with Ferrari

Ferrari and Cadillac have entered into a partnership under which the Maranello-based manufacturer will supply its power units at least until the end of the 2029 season. Ferrari has also made its 2023 car available to allow Sergio Perez to carry out TPC testing at the Imola circuit. Despite this collaboration, the American team’s ultimate goal is to become fully independent by starting the production of its own engines at its Charlotte facility.

Speaking on the Autocar podcast, Pat Symonds explained the work taking place behind the scenes on the development of Cadillac’s own engine: “The location where Power Unit development will be concentrated is Charlotte. We are building a new facility there. For the moment, we are making use of General Motors’ existing facilities.”

It is precisely the North Carolina base that will deliver the first fully independent Power Unit from 2029 onwards. Charlotte is also home to the team’s simulator, which will later be relocated to an additional site in Indianapolis. The wind tunnel could also be moved to the United States in the future. For now, thanks to an agreement with Toyota, the team is using a facility located in Germany.

A car with a fully American identity

One of the key objectives for the team is to move all phases of production to the United States. “The idea is to transfer everything to the United States,” Symonds added. “Indianapolis will handle most of the manufacturing, which at the moment is part of a kind of European supply chain. All of that will move to America relatively soon. It’s exciting.”

The American market continues to grow, and Cadillac is keen to capitalise on this momentum. The main uncertainty concerns the engineering market, which is known to be particularly favourable for teams based in the United Kingdom. This is the reason why, for the time being, the team is working on its 2026 project at Silverstone, where it will remain operational for the production of components such as floors and front wings.

By establishing this dual presence, Cadillac aims to bridge the gap between European technical expertise and American industrial might. While the 2026 debut with Ferrari power provides a stable starting point, the real test for the project will be the 2030 season, when the car is expected to be “Made in the USA” from nose to tail. If Symonds and Lowdon can successfully pull the talent away from the UK to the burgeoning hubs of Charlotte and Indianapolis, Cadillac could fundamentally shift the geographical center of gravity of Formula 1.