Heading into their 2026 Formula 1 season, Cadillac F1 Team has revealed their inaugural chassis, honouring the 2978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti.
The chassis carries the name MAC-26, or Mario Andretti Cadillac 26, serving as a reminder of the American driver’s lasting influence on the team’s foundation and goals. Andretti’s organization, Andretti Global, initiated the bid to enter F1 as the 11th team for 2026 under the project “Andretti Cadillac.” Although the team later rebranded as Cadillac F1, the project evolved from Andretti Global’s early involvement.
Mario Andretti also remains a key figure in motorsport history as he is the only driver to win the F1 World Championship in 1978, alongside the 1968 Indianapolis 500 and the 1967 Daytona 500. Therefore, the tribute further reinforces the team’s performance-driven identity as they embark on their first F1 season, with the Melbourne Grand Prix opener set to take place on March 6-8.
Cadillac leadership on the tribute
With the announcement, Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings, shared, “Naming our first chassis MAC-26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula 1 and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage. His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day.”
Team Principal of Cadillac, Graeme Lowdon, further emphasized the importance of the move:
“Mario Andretti is a legend of Formula 1. A true racer who knows how to win and push the limits of what is possible,” he said. “But more than that, he is an incredible man with a gentle heart who believes in everyone’s ability to shape their own path. At the start of my own journey with the team, he asked me not to let him down – I hope that he will be proud to see the Cadillac Formula 1 Team car bearing his name finally take to the grid.”
Mario Andretti: “the ultimate compliment”
The timing of the Cadillac F1 Team news adds greater significance, with February 28th marking Mario Andretti’s 86th birthday.
With that, Andretti reflected on the deeply meaningful gesture: “Racing has been the joy of my life. It is the ultimate compliment that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honor. I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting bond with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history.”
