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Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss and Cadillac F1 Team Principal Graeme Lowdon in Monza. Photo: RacePictures.

Huge warning given to Cadillac: 'Getting the car to Australia is a victory'

08:11, 21 Dec

Updated: 09:15, 21 Dec

byOlly Darcy

Former McLaren and Aston Martin strategy chief Bernie Collins believes that it will be a "victory" for Cadillac if they can just "get their car on the grid in Australia".

“Cadillac is going to be a struggle, I think.”

- Bernie Collins

After overcoming several obstacles, American manufactuer General Motors had their bid accepted to join the pinnalce of motorsport as an 11th team, with Cadillac taking that spot.

The project, which will see them become power unit manufacturers in 2029, continues to ramp up ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, marking the start of the 2026 season and becoming the first team to join F1 from scratch since Haas in 2016.

“Cadillac is going to be a struggle, I think,” the now Sky Sports F1 pundit stated, likening the new team to their American counterparts as they deal with a mammoth task.

valtteri-bottas-and-sergio-perez-announced-as-cadillac-drivers.jpg

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will return to Formula 1 and race for Cadillac after both missing the 2025 season - Photo: Cadillac

“To get a new team together, get all the people together, to get the car on the grid… We had it before [when] Haas joined the grid.

"I remember, at that point, I was at McLaren, walking into the track on the Friday morning or whatever, as the Haas guys were walking out of the track to have a shower, to go back into the track. That was how much pain they were in to get a new car on the grid for Australia.

“So, I think for the Cadillac guys, the job cannot be underestimated. 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.”

Sky-high expectations from inside Cadillac

There may be some tempered expectations from others, but inside Cadillac, there is plenty of optimism surrounding the project.

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon believes that the "ambitions are limitless" for the American team before they make their debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

There was also an ambitious goal set by Sergio Perez before making his own return to F1, believing that the team has the "confidence" to "surprise" people up and down the grid.

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