General Motors starts F1 power unit company

Cadillac and General Motors have continued to take steps towards Formula 1 by forming the new company that will turn it into a “works team.”

TWG Motorsports and General Motors announced the formation of GM Performance Power Units LLC, which will contract both power units and the chassis by the end of the decade.

Cadillac will be the 11th team on the F1 grid in 2026, but initially use customer Ferrari engines like fellow American team Haas.

But come 2029, Cadillac is expected to become a full works team with General Motors to construct its own factory power units.

Tasked with leading the project that will bring factory status to the Cadillac team will be industry veteran Russ O’Blenes, who has been named the CEO.

O’Blenes has over three decades of experience in motorsport and is currently director of the General Motors Motorsports Propulsion and Performance team.

“I am truly excited to have the opportunity to build and lead the team that will bring an American built F1 power unit to the grid,” said O’Blenes.

“GM PPU is currently ramping up its team and is hiring in all areas of the business.”

“We’re delighted to welcome Russ to this pivotal role,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports. 

“His expertise and leadership will be instrumental as we lay the foundation for Cadillac’s Formula 1 journey. 

“Together with Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, they will lead the team in setting new standards of performance and innovation in the sport.”

The GM F1 base will be close to the brand’s technical centre in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“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 GM President Mark Reuss.

“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.”

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