Formula 1 will have 11 teams and 22 cars on the grid for the first time in a decade in 2026 after confirming that Cadillac will join the pinnacle of motorsport next season.
Not since the 2016 campaign when Manor entered their final Grands Prix has Formula 1 had a field of 11 teams and 22 cars. The 2016 season was even the last time that F1 introduced a new team as Haas debuted, yet 2026 will see General Motors join through its Cadillac brand.
F1 has now formally confirmed Cadillac’s entry for the 2026 season, when Audi will also join the party. But unlike Audi, who are turning Sauber into their factory entry, Cadillac will debut as a fully-new team. Cadillac also aim to be a factory crew with a works engine in the future.
Dani Juncadella urges Cadillac to sign IndyCar champion Alex Palou for their 2026 F1 team
A plethora of drivers have been linked with Cadillac since F1 announced in November that it was finalising a deal with GM for the American automotive giant to join its grid. Cadillac are Sergio Perez’s preferred route back into F1 after Red Bull terminated the Mexican’s contract.
Another experienced option for the new team is Mercedes’ current reserve driver as Valtteri Bottas has already spoken to Cadillac over joining them in 2026. But Aston Martin simulator driver Dani Juncadella will be enraged if Cadillac do not eye a deal to get Alex Palou in F1.
READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers
Palou previously tested for McLaren and contested FP1 at the 2022 United States Grand Prix for the Woking team. But the 27-year-old has never raced in Formula 1 and instead plies his trade in the IndyCar Series, where he is a three-time champion and 13-time race winner yet.
“If Palou is not in the running for one of these seats in 2026, I’m going to burn X down,” said Juncadella on X. “And each and every one of the seats and brands to which I belong are in danger, since I am not responsible for the actions of my keyboard. At least I’m warning you.”
Palou won his IndyCar titles in the 2021, 2023 and 2024 seasons all for Chip Ganassi Racing after debuting in America’s premier single-seater series for Dale Coyne Racing in 2020. The Spaniard also took his 13th-career IndyCar win in the 2025 season-opener at St Petersburg.
Additionally, the 27-year-old already has past ties to Cadillac as Palou raced with the brand’s IMSA Sportscar Championship squad at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2022 and 2024. He even entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Cadillac in 2024 and Palou’s crew finished in seventh.
Fernando Alonso thinks three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou is a ‘phenomenon’
Juncadella is not the first person to tout Palou for a move to Formula 1 after proving to be a dominant force in IndyCar over the past four seasons. James Hinchliffe thinks Palou would instantly adapt to F1 as he is ‘exceptional’ despite going under the radar in his junior career.
Palou was a possible option for Audi as the German automotive giant sought to reshape the driver line-up at Sauber for the 2025 F1 season, too. But Audi ultimately decided to partner Nico Hulkenberg with Gabriel Bortoleto, who went on to win the F2 title in 2024 as a rookie.
Two-time Formula 1 drivers’ champion Fernando Alonso is also a huge believer in Palou and rightly backed his fellow Spaniard to win his debut IndyCar title in 2021. The Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Barcelona native took his maiden title on 549 points to Josef Newgarden on 511.
“Of course I follow him and the truth is that he is a phenomenon,” Alonso said, via PlanetF1 in July 2021. “This year I see him becoming champion because he is the most consistent, the best and I am very happy because having a young Spaniard who is succeeding in IndyCar I think is good for everyone and opens eyes a little bit to new generations, as well.”
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