Cadillac chief Graeme Lowdon has voiced his support for their power unit partner Ferrari as a technical controversy begins to brew ahead of the 2026 F1 season. The dispute centres on the interpretation of new engine regulations, specifically regarding compression ratio limits.
Cadillac F1 boss has confidence in Ferrari engine
The 2026 regulations introduced radical changes to both chassis and power units, including a strict compression ratio limit of 16:1. While some manufacturers have reportedly explored “clever engineering” to exceed this limit, Lowdon is satisfied with the approach taken by Maranello.
“What I’m very confident and happy about is we have a fully legal engine,” Lowdon stated to Sky Sports F1. He emphasised that the regulations are clear and that Ferrari has followed them strictly. “Without going into too many details, we know that Ferrari have completely followed the rules where that stands. That gives us a lot of confidence,” he added.
Milestone reached at Silverstone
Cadillac recently reached a significant milestone by becoming the first team to run the 2026 Ferrari power unit during a private shakedown at Silverstone. As the 11th team making its debut, every bit of track time is vital for the American outfit.
Graeme Lowdon expressed his satisfaction with the progress, noting, “I’m just really happy that we’ve reached yet another milestone on this journey towards the start of the season.”
The team will continue its preparations at the upcoming pre-season testing in Barcelona, scheduled for January 26-30.
A strong technical partnership
General Motors intends to produce its own power units by 2029. However, the current alliance on Ferrari is viewed positively by the Cadillac leadership. Lowdon highlighted the depth of the relationship beyond the supply of hardware.
“They’re great partners. It’s an iconic name in Formula 1 as well,” Lowdon remarked. He noted that Ferrari provides significant technical support. This includes personnel who have joined the Cadillac project to assist with the integration and operation of the power unit.
The focus before the next season remains on ensuring all technical systems are optimised within the legal framework.
