Cadillac Hits Major F1 Mil But Faces Early Setback A...read more

Cadillac Passes Key F1 Crash Tests but Faces Setback Ahead of 2026 Entry

Cadillac has reached a significant milestone on its road to joining Formula 1 in 2026, with its debut chassis successfully passing several important crash tests. However, the achievement comes with a caveat — the car is currently well over the minimum weight limit, presenting a new challenge for the team.

As reported by Motorsport.com, the American squad, backed by General Motors, has managed to meet a series of FIA safety requirements with its first chassis design. While this is a major positive step in the team’s development, engineers now face the difficult task of shedding weight from the car without compromising the structural integrity that allowed it to pass the crash tests in the first place.

This progress highlights Cadillac’s forward momentum as it prepares to enter F1 in partnership with Andretti Global. Though the car passed initial crash tests, more official tests remain before the final version is approved. Under FIA regulations, these tests can be rescheduled freely — a flexibility Cadillac is expected to use as it continues development.

The crash test success follows other encouraging news from the Miami Grand Prix weekend, where General Motors’ prototype F1 power unit was successfully run on a test bench for the first time. Although Cadillac will start as a Ferrari engine customer from 2026 through 2028, GM plans to transition into a full power unit manufacturer starting in 2029.

While progress on the technical side continues, Cadillac’s 2026 driver lineup remains unconfirmed. Sergio Perez remains the frontrunner in speculation, with his name consistently linked to one of the two available race seats. However, the team has yet to make any official announcements regarding its future roster.

In short, while Cadillac’s F1 project has cleared a key hurdle, the challenge of reducing chassis weight without undermining safety is the next big test. With time ticking down to their 2026 debut, all focus now shifts to refining their design and building a competitive package for the grid.