Cadillac's F1 Debut: 'Getting the Car to Australia Is a Victory'
F1 pundit Bernie Collins says Cadillac's primary goal for its 2026 debut should be simply getting its car to the grid in Australia, calling that alone a 'victory'. She compares the challenge to Haas's difficult entry in 2016, highlighting the immense operational hurdles of starting a team from scratch.
Former F1 strategist Bernie Collins warns that simply getting a car on the grid for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix would constitute a "victory" for the new Cadillac F1 team, highlighting the monumental challenge of building a team from scratch. The American manufacturer faces a steep learning curve as it prepares to become the first new constructor since Haas in 2016.
Why it matters:
Launching a new Formula 1 team is one of the most complex tasks in global sports. Cadillac's entry marks a significant expansion for General Motors into the pinnacle of motorsport, but history shows that new teams often face immense initial struggles with logistics, personnel, and car readiness. Setting realistic expectations is crucial for a sustainable long-term project.
The details:
- Bernie Collins, a former strategy chief for McLaren and Aston Martin, stated plainly, "Cadillac is going to be a struggle, I think."
- She drew a direct comparison to Haas F1 Team's painful debut in 2016, recalling team members working through the night just to get the car ready for the first race weekend.
- Collins emphasized that the core achievement for Cadillac's first race will be operational: "If they do get that car on the grid in Australia, that will be really good for them. I think that will be a victory in many ways."
- The team has already secured an experienced driver lineup for its debut, signing Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, who will both return to the grid after sitting out the 2025 season.
The big picture:
Cadillac's journey is a multi-phase project. While the initial goal is a successful debut in 2026, the long-term plan involves becoming a full power unit manufacturer by 2029, taking on established giants like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull Powertrains. This ambition requires building infrastructure and expertise virtually from the ground up.
What's next:
The countdown to the 2026 season opener in Melbourne has begun. All focus within the Cadillac camp is on recruitment, design, and manufacturing to meet that first critical deadline. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon has described the team's ambitions as "limitless," but the immediate benchmark for success, according to seasoned paddock observers, is far more fundamental: getting two cars to the grid and racing.