CADILLAC TO USE OWN F1 POWER UNITS FROM 2029, FIA CONFIMS

Russ O’Blenes, Cadillac

General Motors will enter Formula 1 as a power unit manufacturer in 2029, the FIA has announced.

The US car making giant will join the championship with its own team, Cadillac, next year. It has already agreed a deal to use power units supplied by Ferrari.

GM previously confirmed it had begun work on a power unit for F1’s new regulations which will come into force next year, but had not set a date for its introduction.

The sport’s governing body has now confirmed GM will introduce its power unit in the fourth year after F1’s next engine formula is introduced.

“Welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC as an approved power unit supplier for the championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA’s vision for the future of our sport. It also strengthens our commitment to making motorsport more accessible and inclusive worldwide—welcoming new manufacturers, advancing technology, and connecting with a broader, more diverse fan base.”

The development of GM’s F1 power unit is being steered by Russ O’Blenes (pictured), CEO of GM Performance Power Units. The company is due to move into a new building to begin construction of its F1 power unit in 2027.

Ben Sulayem recently cast doubt over the future of F1’s new engine regulations after stating the sport should consider switching to normally aspirated V10 engines. A meeting between the FIA, Formula One management and engine manufacturers two weeks ago in Bahrain resulted in a commitment to the planned rules cycle, meaning the incoming hybrids are expected to remain in use until at least 2030.

- Keith Collantine

GENERAL MOTORS SETS UP NEW POWER UNITS DIVISION FOR FORMULA 1 TEAM

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