FORMULA ONE chief Stefano Domenicali has claimed it is a “formality” an 11th team will be on the grid in 2026.
The new F1 season gets underway next week with the Australian Grand Prix from Melbourne.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has given an update on Cadillac’s bid to be on the grid[/caption]
There could soon be an 11th team on the grid for 2026[/caption]
Fans are eager to see Lewis Hamilton make his debut for Ferrari following a shock switch from Mercedes.
While defending champion Max Verstappen is targeting a record fifth-straight title.
It was announced last year that F1 had signed an “agreement in principle” with Cadillac and parent company General Motors.
F1 CEO Domenicali has now provided an update following numerous delays.
And it appears the US-based team will be lining up on the grid from next season.
Domenicali said: “There is the formality that is related to the process that [is] almost ready.
“Together with the FIA there has to be an update and whenever this will be ready, it should be not too long, there will be an update to formalise what basically has already happened.
“So they will be ready to fight against or together with the other teams for next year.”
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Cadillac will initially use Ferrari engines, with the team hoping to build their own power units in the future.
In a statement last November, F1 confirmed they had kept a constant “dialogue” open with General Motors.
It read: “Formula One has reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the eleventh team to the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
“Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024.
“Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time.
“Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process and will provide further updates in due course.”
General Motors remains the largest car-maker in the United States.
The company was the biggest in the world until 2008 when it was overtaken by Japanese company Toyota.
