Cadillac Formula 1 Team Unveils Special Edition Livery for Barcelona Shakedown

Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1® is rapidly approaching, with the iconic American brand set to make its historic debut as the Cadillac Formula 1® Team at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.

Today, General Motors President Mark Reuss unveiled the Cadillac Formula 1® Team’s Special Edition testing livery at GM’s new global headquarters, the Hudson’s Detroit building, marking a major milestone on Cadillac’s journey to the Formula 1® grid. The livery will be used at the all-team Shakedown Week in Barcelona, Spain, January 26 – 30, ahead of unveiling the final livery on February 8.

The testing livery was developed through a cross-continental collaboration between the General Motors Global Design team, and Cadillac Formula 1® Team. The partnership underscores the global reach of the Cadillac Formula 1® Team program and the deep creative and technical talent driving the brand’s debut in F1®.

The unveiling was part of GM’s opening-week celebrations at its new headquarters, with a replica F1® car proudly wearing the Cadillac Formula 1® Team Barcelona Shakedown livery. The car will additionally be on display at the Detroit Auto Show until January 25 for enthusiasts to see in person.

Distinct from the official race livery, the Cadillac Formula 1® Team Barcelona Shakedown livery is a bold, yet disciplined design created specifically for the demands of pre-season development. In Formula 1®, testing liveries traditionally help mask aerodynamic details ahead of competition—much like camouflaged prototypes in the automotive world—while still expressing brand identity.

“Our new testing livery celebrates Detroit’s design heritage and the power of the global Cadillac Formula 1® team, while keeping our design secrets under wraps,” Reuss said. “The Barcelona test is just the beginning — we can’t wait to share our official race livery with fans around the world next month.”

Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1® Team Holdings, added: “Cadillac Formula 1® is committed to innovation on and off the track. TWG combined with General Motors allows us to rethink the norm and introduce the team in bold new ways. Debuting our race livery during a globally televised championship broadcast challenges convention and brings Cadillac Formula 1® to a global audience. Paired with this special-edition testing livery designed by the GM Global Design studios, we’re honoring automotive heritage while looking ahead as we build toward the 2026 season.”

A Purposeful Design for Testing

The monochrome concept creates a striking and premium appearance by linking to a modern interpretation of the iconic Cadillac crest and shield, serving as a visual anchor across the car. The large Cadillac crest is draped elegantly over the rear to disguise the aero surfaces and to boldly showcase the arrival of Cadillac on the global sporting stage. The Cadillac precision geometric pattern is presented vertically throughout the race car in a gloss and matte sequence which will help disguise the bodywork in an artful display of the brand’s DNA.

Clean line work and restrained color blocking reinforce a technical, future-forward aesthetic aligned with Cadillac’s performance ambitions at the pinnacle of global motorsport.

As a nod to the ongoing dedication and expertise from both sides of the Atlantic to bring the team to the grid, the names of the founding members of the Cadillac Formula 1® Team from both the United States and the UK will also be incorporated into the design.

Looking Ahead to the Grid

The Cadillac Formula 1® Team will unveil its official 2026 Formula 1® race livery on February 8 offering fans their first look at the design that will compete throughout the season.

Revealing the Special Edition testing livery at the Hudson’s Detroit building honors Cadillac’s deep legacy in the city. The new GM global headquarters sits just a few miles from Cadillac’s original Detroit headquarters, symbolically linking the brand’s storied past with its Formula 1® future.

With anticipation building ahead of the Barcelona Shakedown, the race livery reveal, and the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the Cadillac Formula 1® Team debut on the Formula 1® grid represents a landmark moment for American motorsport on the global stage.