Cadillac has confirmed that its new Formula 1 engine factory will open its doors on December 18. This investment comes after FIA approval as a supplier of engines for the 2029 season, which has driven the creation of these facilities at its center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mark Reuss, president of General Motors, made the announcement during a conference at the Autosport Business Exchange in New York. “We are going to open our entire engine factory in Charlotte on December 18. We are making very good progress on this project,” Reuss assured.
Although the factory will be operational soon, Cadillac will have a few years to design its own engine. However, time is not entirely favorable, as FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed the intention to return to V8 engines, potentially running on sustainable fuels and a lower proportion of electricity, by 2031. This would mean that GM would only have one or two years to use its engine in top competition.
Meanwhile, the Cadillac team is competing with Ferrari engines, and its first season has been complicated. Currently, it is the only team that has not scored any points in the 2026 season and has been the slowest in the last four qualifications.
Reuss emphasized the need to build the team and the power of the vehicle: “We are not here to finish last, so we need to keep moving forward with the development of the engine and the car, just as we did in GTP. This takes more time here, as this is new territory for us.”
The experience of veterans like Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas has been key in this process, although both drivers have recorded the worst results of their careers. Reuss has expressed his gratitude for the patience shown by the drivers: “I am very happy that they are patient with us; this requires a special person.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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