Formula 1 is officially crashing the biggest party in American sports. General Motors has confirmed that the much anticipated Cadillac F1 team will unveil its official racing livery during the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026. This announcement marks a massive marketing collision between the pinnacle of global motorsport and the heavy hitting viewership of the National Football League.
The reveal promises to be a defining moment for American motorsport history as the iconic luxury brand prepares to join the Formula 1 grid. Fans tuning in for the game will witness the first public look at the car set to challenge European dominance.
Super Bowl Stage Set for High Speed Debut
Choosing the Super Bowl for a car launch is a statement of intent that goes far beyond traditional racing norms. Formula 1 teams usually pull the covers off their challengers in sterile factories or during online streams. Cadillac is flipping the script by targeting a mainstream audience of over 100 million viewers. This aggressive strategy aligns perfectly with the sport’s explosive growth in the United States over the last five years.
General Motors understands that visibility is currency. By securing airtime during the Big Game, they are not just announcing a race car. They are announcing Cadillac as a global performance powerhouse.
Cadillac Formula 1 race car livery silhouette dark background
“This is not just about racing. It is about cementing Cadillac as a premier global performance brand on the world’s biggest stage.”
The timing is incredibly tight. The Super Bowl airs just days before official pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain. This suggests the car shown on TV will be the final show car specification before the real machinery hits the asphalt. It creates a seamless narrative arc from the glitz of the halftime show to the grit of the racetrack within the same week.
Veteran Drivers Ready to Lead the Charge
A flashy paint job means nothing without the talent to back it up. Cadillac has secured a driver lineup that balances raw speed with essential experience. The team has signed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio “Checo” Pérez to pilot their maiden challengers. This pairing provides the technical feedback necessary to develop a brand new car from scratch.
Valtteri Bottas brings a decade of expertise and the discipline learned from champion team Mercedes. His ability to qualify well and manage race weekends is exactly what a rookie team needs to find its footing.
On the other side of the garage sits Sergio Pérez. The Mexican driver is renowned for his tire management and his ability to drag mid-field cars onto the podium. His presence also secures a massive fanbase across North America and Latin America. This makes him a commercial goldmine for the team’s sponsors.
Here is how the two veterans stack up as they enter this new chapter:
| Driver Statistic | Valtteri Bottas | Sergio Pérez |
|---|---|---|
| F1 Wins | 10 | 6 |
| Podiums | 67 | 39 |
| Race Starts | 246+ | 281+ |
| Key Strength | Qualifying Pace | Tire Management |
Both drivers have something to prove. Bottas wants to show he can lead a team as the primary driver. Pérez is looking to silence critics after a turbulent end to his previous tenure. Together they form one of the most experienced pairings on the grid.
Under the Hood of the New American Contender
The visuals will grab the headlines on Super Bowl Sunday, but the engineering reality is far more complex. The Cadillac F1 entry is a massive logistical operation spread across three distinct locations.
The team has set up operations in Fishers, Indiana, and Charlotte, North Carolina. These US bases will handle business operations and likely some manufacturing support. However, the heart of the racing team operates out of Silverstone in the United Kingdom. This location places them right in the middle of “Motorsport Valley,” granting access to the best engineering talent in the world.
For the initial seasons, the car will not be powered by a GM engine. Cadillac will utilize Ferrari powertrains to get off the ground before transitioning to their own American made power units later in the decade.
This “customer team” model is a smart play. It removes one massive variable from the equation. The team can focus on aerodynamics and chassis balance while relying on the proven reliability of the Ferrari engine.
Building a competitive F1 car is arguably the hardest engineering challenge in sports. The livery reveal will likely hint at the aerodynamic philosophy the team is pursuing. Fans should look for dark hues, possibly black and gold or the signature V-Series colors, to minimize weight and maximize brand recognition.
Key Dates Before the Lights Go Out
The Super Bowl reveal is just the starting gun for a frantic month of activity. Once the confetti clears from the football field, the team faces a grueling schedule to get ready for the season opener in Australia.
The logistics of moving a Formula 1 team are immense. Immediately following the marketing blitz, the focus shifts entirely to performance and reliability.
Mark these dates on your calendar to follow the Cadillac journey:
- January 26 to 30: Preliminary closed door testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This is the “shakedown” where they ensure the car physically runs.
- February 8: Official Livery Unveil at Super Bowl LX. The world sees the car design for the first time.
- February 11 to 13: Official Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain. The first time we see the car’s true pace against rivals like McLaren and Red Bull.
- March: The Grand Prix season opener in Melbourne, Australia.
The road ahead is steep. New teams often struggle with reliability issues and the sheer pace of development required to keep up. However, with backing from TWG Motorsports and the might of General Motors, Cadillac is better positioned than most startups.
The wait is almost over. Come February, we will finally see if American luxury can translate into Grand Prix glory.
