Formula One will add an 11th team to the grid for the 2026 season, with Cadillac, a division of American carmaker General Motors, expected to join the premier motorsport circuit.
Cadillac and those involved in the bidding process are understood to have “achieved operational milestones” that have indicated their commitment to establishing the new company, despite strong opposition from other teams on the grid.
The measure, initially led by Andretti, was rejected in January. Andretti is owned by former Formula One driver Michael Andretti, son of Mario Andretti. While Andretti’s name was removed from the offer, Mario is still involved in the project.
“Formula One announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support the addition of GM/Cadillac as the 11th team to the Formula One grid in 2026,” a statement from a spokesperson said on Monday. of Formula One.
“Formula One has maintained a dialogue with General Motors and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial evaluation and decision made by Formula One in January 2024.”
The news, which came just 48 hours after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, has many motorsport fans talking about who could compete for the new American-owned team in 2026.
Daniel Ricciardo could be given a lifeline back to F1, according to reports, as Cadillac will become a new team on the grid in 2026.
They will be the 11th team on the grid, after F1 bosses approved their proposed entry.
According The nocturnalthe new team could give Daniel Ricciardo an “opportunity to review his racing career.”
The Australian driver had been fired by Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, after the Singapore Grand Prix.
The 35-year-old was shown the door after his lackluster performances this season. Ricciardo’s best result came in June at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished eighth in the standings.
He would finish 18th in Singapore, prompting Red Bull bosses to make a brutal decision to sack the fan favourite.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had also hinted that VCARB had given Ricciardo a second chance.
“He himself was informed in time and, in his own words, he is at peace with himself. I also think that the fastest lap he set was a worthy farewell,” he wrote in his column for SpeedWeek.
‘He was given a second chance that no one else would have given him.
‘And this was done under the premise that a return to Red Bull Racing is possible if their performance is up to par. Therefore, the Racing Bulls team was only intended as a stopover.’
The Australian driver had been fired by Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, after the Singapore Grand Prix.
It came after Ricciardo had endured a difficult year on the track, with his best race result coming at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he placed eighth.
Reflecting on his performances, Marko gave an honest assessment of the Australian driver’s form and claimed he had lost his “killer instinct”.
“But other than that, the speed wasn’t there and the consistency wasn’t there either. All the performance that would have justified a promotion to Red Bull Racing was missing. But that was the purpose of it all,” Marko said.
He added: ”But (Ricciardo’s) same killer instinct was simply no longer recognizable. He was famous for his uncompromising overtaking, for braking at the last point. But that was no longer the case either.”
Speculation has grown that Singapore could have been the last time we see Ricciardo in a Formula One car.
He recently appeared on Instagram wearing a cap that had the message: “I’m retired, having fun is my job.”
In September, he claimed that he “has a good idea” that he may have raced in his last race in F1.
Asked if Singapore was his last race, he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Possibly, possibly, yes.” So if that’s the case, I think it’s a good way to say goodbye.
He added: “I’m not really sure what the plan is, but I mean, look, I obviously have a good idea.”
Ricciardo has not spoken about what the future holds for him, but he has been touted to compete in the Australian Super Cars competition.
Despite this, the Australian would be a great addition to the Cadillac team, given his experience.
Ricciardo has participated in 258 races in his career, winning eight and accumulating 32 podiums.
You could have many new career options coming to your door.
The ever-charismatic driver could pursue a career in broadcasting, while some have also tried to convince him to join other motorsport competitions, including the chance to compete in Australia’s Bathurst 1000 race.