Cadillac has named its first Formula 1 car MAC-26, confirming that its 2026 challenger will carry a tribute to 1978 world champion Mario Andretti ahead of the team’s debut season.
The designation MAC-26 stands for Mario Andretti Cadillac 26, formally linking the American manufacturer’s first grand prix chassis to one of the most significant figures in US motorsport history.
The announcement was made ahead of Andretti’s 86th birthday on 28 February, underlining the symbolic timing of the decision.
The ‘ultimate compliment’ to a world champion
Team CEO Dan Towriss said, “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,”
Andretti described the recognition as an “ultimate compliment,” adding that he cherishes the opportunity to maintain a lasting bond with Formula 1.
The 1978 world champion added: “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.”
Team principal Graeme Lowdon said that at the beginning of his tenure, “he asked me not to let him down”, referring to a conversation with Andretti as the project gathered momentum.
Ahead of the team’s 2026 debut on the F1 grid, Lowden said: “Mario Andretti is a legend of Formula 1. A true racer who knows how to win and push the limits of what is possible. 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,”
Andretti was instrumental in the original push to bring the project to the grid, and remains an ambassador for the team following its restructuring and eventual approval.
Cadillac prepares for its 2026 debut next week
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will drive the MAC-26 in its first season, with the car running a Ferrari-engined power unit.
During pre-season running, the pair completed a combined 3935km in winter testing ahead of the team’s first grand prix when the 2026 F1 season begins in Australia next week.
The MAC-26 will become the first Cadillac-branded car to take to the Formula 1 grid, carrying Andretti’s name into the championship as the team begins its inaugural campaign.
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