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GM Sets Up Engine Company to Back Cadillac F1 Entry
General Motors is readily throwing its corporate and engineering might behind its forthcoming entry into Formula 1. According to a report posted by Reuters late last week, the automotive conglomerate has set up a new engine company, GM Performance Power Units LLC, to handle the development and production of the power unit for the forthcoming two-car team, which is set to join the 10 existing teams on the grid for the 2026 season.
Russ O’Blenes, who currently serves as director of the GM Motorsports Propulsion and Performance team, will head up the operation.
“In F1, we’re going to demonstrate GM’s engineering and technology capabilities on a global stage, and Russ is the right choice to lead the Power Unit team that will make it happen,” said GM President Mark Reuss in a statement.
But the new company isn’t targeting a concurrent launch of the new power unit with the team’s first season. For the 2026 and 2027 seasons, Ferrari will supply power units for both cars. The target for the internally developed PU is the 2028 season, which will then make the Cadillac team a works team, a pretty prestigious title among the grid, and a point of contention while GM was vying for a spot in F1 last year.
Development and testing of a prototype power unit has already begun, according to Cadillac. Plans are also already in place for the new company to open a dedicated facility in 2026 near the GM technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Of course, once the power units are ready to roll, they’ll undergo extensive testing by Formula 1 to ensure that they meet the forthcoming regulations, which are set to take effect in 2026. The long and short of those regulations include a far greater reliance on electrical power—closer to a 50/50 split between electrical and internal combustion energy, as opposed to currently, where ICE makes up a far greater percentage of the overall propulsion pie. (The exact split between ICE/electrical power varies depending on where you look, but generally, the figures seem to be between 80/20 and 75/25.)
If all holds true among the rest of the F1 grid, there will be six OEMs involved with power unit manufacturing by the start of the 2028 season: Mercedes, Ferrari, Ford—in partnership with Red Bull Powertrains, Honda, Audi, and Cadillac.
Of course, given the soap opera-adjacent nature of the sport at times, that feels about as likely as the reintroduction of free-breathing V-10s. Still, it will be exciting to follow how this all unfolds.
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The EV part is why Cadillac wanted in and the advancement of the GM EV tech should be a great advantage.
GM also expect to be an engine supplier at some point.
This is not sone Vird deal where they lay GTO put their name on an engine.
Will this work? I think it will based on the IMSA program. They finally have started to learn the commitment it takes vs what they were willing to give in the past. You can’t half ass this stuff.
Wouldn’t it be something to have a Caddy power train win the F-1 championship in say, five years’ time?
The funny thing is that in 2000 or there abouts GM and Fiat invested in each other with a loose shared platform technology deal. An arrangement that came and went ( “and always too soon ” ) At that time the head of Fiat, who then still owned Ferrari, cautioned GM about getting involved in F-1 at the end of the press announcement, calling it something like “a very expensive hobby “. So it is. A wait and see that should at the very least should be interesting. I wonder who GM is courting to put their brand displayed on the effort.
Well times have changed since 2000. Today the coverage of F1 is only beaten by Soccer globally. Even in the states it has really changed.
I expect they will have a bit of a leaning curve the first two years. But that is to be expected. The 3rd year will be all new cars and power trains. with this it will be learning for all teams. GM will hold a great advantage with he EV aspect of the new formula. They have a lot of technology in this area many other teams will lack.
I’m glad they are doing this as a whole package and not just putting a name on an existing car. They will be a constructor and will use all of GM’s resources vs just doing as much as they have to do. GM was always capable at the tech but lack the willing management to fund it and promote it right.
Today F1 is more an industry vs hobby. They are entering at a good time and it should level the playing field.
GM has often become enthusiastic about new projects and as often dropped them when they required further development and were actually on their way to success. Hopefully, they are in the F1 enterprise for the long term, as success is not immediate and only stubborn commitment wins in this game. I wish them well.
I don’t think GM is going into this with the blinders on. Expecting to win right out of the gate even with all the money, computer simulations and, even though they may be hopeful. 2025 is kind of a layoff season with everyone looking towards the new rules package. A good time for them to get their feet wet. How many times have we seen a team have some fluky problem that no one, including them, would expect. The five cent washer syndrome even if it was produced to exacting standards from a solid block of titanium. Aston Martin may be the one to watch. Not this year but the following when Adrian Neweys and Hondas participation will actually take effect. Audis commitment is an ongoing story even though perhaps fueled by media hype. How much cake adidas is paying Mercedes/ Petronas to be a sponsor who knows? Every little bit helps. Hamilton at Ferrari will most likely get the majority of attention at least at first. If I was a betting man the smart money is probably that McLaren will pickup where they left off and continue their winning ways. Still that could change in a New York minute.
I will be interested in what Cadillac does when they get their engines in place. Running on Ferrari power I guess is the training wheels phase of their career.
I have to laugh at this news. It feels like the same old quiet hype. It will come to pass. Like changing the logo on HQ to reflect being the EV leader. At the time without being successful at it. Now pulling out of the Ren Cen in Detroit. Leaving another massive hulk for the city to clean up.
Corporate downsizing. Old product. Recalls. Negative social media. The new folly. F1 racing. Let’s see how far this goes. GM as a company should be in survival mode to avoid bankruptcy. Racing with Ferrari isn’t going to help now. Ford did that in the 1960’s lol. Surely Mary saw the movie!