New F1 team for 2026 targeting non-F1 star as their first driver in surprise move

The 11th Formula 1 team on the grid for 2026 have decided to target a driver from outside of the sport to become their first signing.

American car manufacturer General Motors, running under the entry of their Cadillac division, will join the F1 grid from 2026 onwards.

They will become the first new constructor since Haas in 2016, with the grid having remained the same - barring ownership and team name/branding changes - since then.

An initial attempt to enter the grid was made by Michael Andretti, the son of 1978 Drivers' Champion Mario Andretti.

But the FIA turned down Andretti, who had a brief and unsuccessful stint in F1 with McLaren in 1993 after major success in the American CART (now IndyCar) series.

With F1 currently undergoing a boom in the States, led by Netflix's 'Drive to Survive' and three Grands Prix in the country, it was anticipated that Cadillac would target an American-based driver to join up with their new F1 team.

IndyCar has traditionally not been a proving ground for up-and-coming F1 talent, but the category has gained significantly more exposure in recent seasons.

Reigning series champion Alex Palou has tested an F1 car previously, and many believe he would seamlessly adapt if a team signed him to race for him. At 27, the Spaniard is still to enter his prime years.

Colton Herta, meanwhile, is the top American-born talent in the series, while Scott McLaughlin is another driver who has been previously tipped to make the move worldwide.

But Mario Andretti has indicated that Cadillac have keen interest in signing Pato O'Ward, who currently races for the Arrow McLaren team and is McLaren's reserve driver in F1.

O'Ward took part in a practice session for McLaren last season at the Mexican Grand Prix, and his fastest lap was only three tenths slower than Oscar Piastri.

The 25-year-old Mexican has long been tipped for an F1 drive in the future, and he is immensely popular in his home country.

He has also finished as runner-up on two occasions in the prestigious Indy 500, losing out to Josef Newgarden in what was effectively a last-lap shootout in 2024.

Speaking to ESPN Fans, Andretti said: "He has tremendous talent. He has shown that.

"Of course, we would have to fight pretty hard with McLaren, because at the moment he's under their contract.

"So yeah, you have to keep your options open when they come, maybe many situations are not available today, but in a year or two, who knows?

"You have to keep your options open at all times. You can't say, 'We only can go in this direction', because things change."

Pato O'Ward on F1 dream

O'Ward has previously stated that he cannot wait for an opportunity in F1 forever, and has set himself a deadline of under five years to get into the sport as a full-time driver before focusing elsewhere.

In October, he told The Race: "I'm at a point in my career where I'm all in, and I've been in for so long for this opportunity in Formula 1 to come about.

"But that always has a deadline, it will always have a date where it's just, 'That's enough', because it might never happen.

"I'm not open to doing it for five more years. I think there's definitely a deadline, and that will come sooner rather than later. I'm giving it everything this year and hopefully my opportunities keep on growing."

O'Ward currently sits second in the 2025 IndyCar championship after two races, having finished second at The Thermal Club last weekend.