General Motors has set up a new division to create power units for the team it intends to enter into F1 next year.
It has already announced a deal to use Ferrari power units from next year as part of a “multi-year” arrangement, indicating it would begin using its own power units in 2028 at the earliest.
A statement issued on Thursday by General Motors and TWG Motorsport said the newly-formed GM Performance Power Units LLC will “put Cadillac on the path to being a ‘full works’ team — building Formula 1 vehicles and power units — by the end of the decade.”,
GM intends to open a dedicated facility for its Performance Power Units division near its technical centre in Charlotte next year.
Russ O’Blenes will be the CEO of the new venture. He has had a long career in power unit development for road and racing cars and previously worked at GM’s Performance and Racing Center in Michigan.
“Russ brings vast experience from many championship racing series, and has outstanding technical expertise, including spearheading our hybrid IMSA Cadillac and Corvette C8.R engines that are proven winners,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM. “In F1, we’re going to demonstrate GM’s engineering and technology capabilities on a global stage, and Russ is the right choice to lead the power unit team that will make it happen.”
O’Blenes said he is “truly excited to have the opportunity to build and lead the team that will bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid.
“GM PPU is currently ramping up its team and is hiring in all areas of the business.”
Formula One Management confirmed in November it had reached an “agreement in principle” for the Cadillac-branded team to join the series as a new, 11th team next year.
- Keith Collantine
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