In a dramatic development that could reshape the future of both Renault and Cadillac in Formula 1, General Motors’ Cadillac brand is reportedly in talks to acquire Renault’s dormant 2026 F1 engine project. The deal could offer Cadillac a crucial boost in its ambitions to join the sport by 2028, despite facing significant hurdles.
Renault has made a controversial decision to halt production of its F1 power units at the end of the 2025 season, opting instead to rely on customer engines for its struggling Alpine team. This shift has frustrated many at Renault’s Viry-Chatillon facility, where engineers had already been hard at work on a new 2026 power unit, now seemingly sidelined.
However, Cadillac appears to see opportunity in Renault’s abandoned plans. According to renowned F1 reporter Joe Saward, the American automaker is seeking to purchase the intellectual property tied to Renault’s 2026 engine development, potentially salvaging the work and using it to fast-track its own Formula 1 power unit project.
Cadillac’s interest stems from its ongoing collaboration with Michael Andretti’s efforts to join the F1 grid. The Andretti-Cadillac partnership, unveiled last year, originally aimed to compete with a customer engine before Cadillac introduced its own power unit by 2028. But with Andretti’s 2026 entry bid rejected by Formula One Management (FOM), the team has been forced to regroup, with eyes now on a later debut.
FOM’s initial rejection wasn’t a flat-out denial but instead suggested Cadillac’s F1 prospects could improve if the brand developed its own power unit. FOM stated, “We would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 Championship with a GM power unit.”
The acquisition of Renault’s engine blueprints would accelerate Cadillac’s ability to meet F1’s stringent technical requirements. Moreover, Cadillac has a strong motorsport pedigree, particularly in endurance racing through IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which could allow it to refine Renault’s engine concepts for its own use.
Although Andretti’s 2026 grid spot remains elusive, Cadillac’s aggressive push for engine development strengthens its case for a future F1 entry. In parallel, Andretti has been laying the groundwork, establishing a base in Silverstone and recruiting key personnel like former F1 Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds to guide its engineering efforts.
But Cadillac may not stop at the power unit. With Renault’s Viry-based engine division potentially on the market, it opens the door for a more significant acquisition. While Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has publicly dismissed any plans to sell the Alpine F1 team, a customer engine deal combined with improved on-track performance could drive up Alpine’s value, making a sale more enticing in the future.
For Andretti Cadillac, a deal with Renault could offer not only a shortcut to engine development but a foothold into the world of F1, potentially securing Alpine’s Enstone facility as part of a broader acquisition. Should the pieces fall into place, Cadillac’s move could signal a major shift in the F1 landscape, positioning the American automaker for a full-scale entry by 2028.
For now, Cadillac’s acquisition ambitions remain speculative, but the pursuit of Renault’s 2026 engine plans is a clear signal that the American giant is willing to go all-in to realize its Formula 1 dream.
