This General Motors power unit will supposedly make its debut within the Andretti Cadillac F1 entry.
While for a short time recently there were lamentations of there only to be three engine suppliers left on the Formula 1 grid, it would seem for this worry to now be a non-issue anymore. Such is because come 2028, there will actually be a whopping 7 different power units available for teams to choose from, with General Motors being the latest to join the fray.
Having recently formally registered with the FIA as a F1 power unit supplier starting from the 2028 season, this upcoming General Motors power unit will be set to power the new Andretti Cadillac entry. Though for anyone who knows the drama behind said latest addition to the grid, it might perhaps be prudent for GM not to start advertising itself as a Formula 1 engine maker just yet.
In any case however, GM has already apparently been developing and testing prototype technology that’ll end up in these eventually Cadillac-badged Formula 1 power units. The automaker claims that it aims to use this engineering challenge to advance its expertise in areas including electrification, hybrid technology, sustainable fuels, high efficiency internal combustion engines, advanced controls and software systems.
“We are thrilled that our new Andretti Cadillac F1 entry will be powered by a GM power unit,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “With our deep engineering and racing expertise, we’re confident we’ll develop a successful power unit for the series, and position Andretti Cadillac as a true works team. We will run with the very best, at the highest levels, with passion and integrity that will help elevate the sport for race fans around the world.”
General Motors will now join existing F1 power unit suppliers Honda, Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari and Renault on the grid in 2028, with the other two new-comers joining by then being Audi and a Red Bull Powertrain/Ford collaboration. And while there are certainly flashbacks to calls of a GP2 engine when it comes to any new F1 power unit entering the scene, it is nevertheless worth noting that this once much-loathed engine did eventually go on to power the 2020 world champion, and technically still lives on in the currently all-dominating Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
For what its worth too, General Motors is no stranger to motorsports success. The automaker after all had developed the 5.5-litre V8 that powered Cadillac’s IMSA GTP race car to a championship victory, as well as a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
