Cadillac who will enter F1 in 2026 as the 11th team have named its debut chassis MAC-26 in honour of former world champion Mario Andretti, who has been an insipiration behind the American dream.
F1 News: Cadillac Names Debut Chassis ‘MAC-26’ in Honour of Mario Andretti | @F1/X
The Cadillac Formula 1 team is set to make its debut in the 2026 season as the 11th team on the grid, with the campaign kicking off on March 8 in Australia. Ahead of its historic entry, the American manufacturer has revealed the name of its debut chassis, the MAC-26, in honour of legend Mario Andretti.
The car's name was officially announced on February 27, just a day before Andretti’s 86th birthday. But, who is he?
Mario Andretti is one of the most influential Italian-American drivers in Formula 1 history. The former world champion competed across 14 seasons, winning 12 Grands Prix and clinching the 1978 World Championship with Lotus. He also made his mark on IndyCar with four titles, Daytona 500, and Indianapolis 500 becoming an American motorsports hero.
Andretti has played a big role in Cadillac’s journey to Formula 1. He has been a part of team’s formation that saw the expansion of the Formula 1 grid from 10 to 11 teams after more than a decade. Today, he serves as an ambassador and board member of the Cadillac F1 project.
Dan Towriss, CEO of the Cadillac Formula 1 team, described Andretti as a symbol of the American dream in motorsport.
“Naming our first chassis MAC-26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula 1 and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage. His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day,” Towriss said.
Off into the sunset 😌 pic.twitter.com/Otk4soBkYh
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) February 27, 2026
Andretti, meanwhile, called the gesture an ultimate compliment. “Racing has been the joy of my life. It is the ultimate compliment that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honor," he said.
"I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting bond with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history,” Andretti added.
Cadillac will make its first lap at Albert Park, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez confirmed as its driver pairing. The team will run an asymmetric black-and-white livery for its inaugural season.
Graeme Lowdon has been appointed as Team Principal of the US-based F1 team. For its first three seasons (2026–2028), Cadillac will use Ferrari power units and gearboxes, while General Motors aims to become a full works manufacturer by introducing its own GM-branded engine from 2029 onward.
In pre-season testing in Bahrain, Cadillac showed good pace, reportedly running faster than Aston Martin at times. While Sergio Perez faced minor mechanical issues on the opening day of the second test, overall feedback on the engineering package has been positive.
