Cadillac unveils 2026 F1 livery in Super Bowl ad, positioning itself as 'America's new team'

Cadillac has revealed the racing livery for its Formula 1 debut in 2026, using a high-profile Super Bowl advertisement to declare itself "America's new team." The car features a striking split-color design and marks the official visual identity for the series' newest constructor as it begins its final preparation phase.

Why it matters:

The entry of a major American automotive brand into F1 represents a significant shift in the sport's commercial and competitive landscape, directly targeting the valuable U.S. market. Choosing the Super Bowl—the most expensive and watched advertising event in the U.S.—to launch its livery underscores Cadillac's commitment to making a major splash and capturing the attention of mainstream American sports fans, not just traditional F1 audiences.

The details:

• The 2026 chassis will sport a distinctive two-tone livery, with the car's right side primarily black and the left side primarily white.
• The livery was unveiled during a Super Bowl LVIII ad spot, which strategically used audio from President John F. Kennedy's 1962 "We choose to go to the Moon" speech to frame its ambitious entry.
• The team, operated by TWG Motorsports, will initially be a customer of Ferrari power units until Cadillac's bespoke engine is ready, currently slated for the 2029 season.
• The car has already completed initial track running, including a filming day at Silverstone and participation in F1's collective pre-season shakedown in Barcelona.
  • In Barcelona, the car ran a special test livery and completed 164 laps, roughly equivalent to two and a half Spanish Grand Prix race distances, though its pace was reported to be over four seconds off the test's fastest lap.

What's next:

The team's first competitive season is scheduled to begin on March 7, 2026, with races streaming on Apple TV+ in the United States. All focus now shifts to turning the show-car promise of the Super Bowl ad into on-track performance, with a long-term technical roadmap that hinges on developing a competitive in-house power unit by the end of the decade.