F1: Cadillac to play safe with deadlines for first Formula One car build
Cadillac will be playing it safe with design deadlines as the General Motors-backed team prepares for a 2026 Formula One debut, according to executive engineering consultant Pat Symonds. The team still faces a race to be ready in time for pre-season testing, which next year is likely to start in Barcelona in late January with two further sessions expected in Bahrain in February. “We have taken what I think is a very conservative approach to producing that car, and I think that’s absolutely the right thing to do,” Symonds, F1’s former chief technical officer, told Reuters when asked about timelines. Symonds said the infrastructure around a team was complex, trucks had to be ordered a year in advance while hiring staff was complicated by long notice periods and the need for ‘gardening leave’ that delayed start dates.
Discover Related
F1 2025: Aston Martin expects Adrian Newey to have immediate impact on performance
F1 2025: Alonso expects Aston Martin to start season in a better place
Adrian Newey makes bold prediction for 2026 F1 season ahead of Aston Martin move
Lewis Hamilton drives Ferrari F1 car for first time as fans turn up in numbers
Lego and Formula 1 unite to ignite the thrill of racing ahead of 2025 season
General Motors strikes deal to bring Cadillac to F1 in 2026
Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors Cadillac brand for 2026 season
Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team
Formula 1 expands grid as General Motors to become the 11th team in 2026