(Motorsport-Total.com) – It is a bow to a legend that goes far beyond mere marketing. When Cadillac rolls onto the Formula 1 starting grid in 2026, the heart of the car – the chassis – will bear a name that stands for the American racing spirit like no other: Mario Andretti.
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As the team has officially confirmed, the US squad’s first chassis will be named “MAC-26” – an acronym for “Mario Andretti Cadillac”. For the 1978 world champion, this is an honor that visibly moves him even at the age of 86. “I already have the plaque standing right next to my World Championship trophy in the display case,” Andretti reveals in an interview with our sister site Autosport.
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But how did this decision come about? In an episode of the podcast Beyond the Grid, the team gave deeper insights into the origin story. According to this, the connection to the Andretti family was the emotional North Star of the project from day one – even after Michael Andretti had stepped back somewhat operationally to make room for the Cadillac structure.
“What better way for America’s newest team than to celebrate with the 1978 world champion?” says the Cadillac CEO on Beyond the Grid. Mario Andretti was therefore much more than just a namesake; he was the most important argument in the search for talent in Europe.
“When you talk to people like Graeme Lowdon, who were recruiting personnel with Formula 1 experience at a time when we didn’t even have a grid slot confirmed, there was always this aura around Mario. There was this appeal of building a team from the ground up that isn’t ‘corporate’. Formula 1 is a big business, no doubt. But people want to be racers. Mario represented that ethos.”
“MAC-26” was set from the beginning
The decision for the designation “MAC-26” was by no means spontaneous after the FIA’s entry approval. “It was always the intention to do that,” says the team management. “Even in the first documents submitted to the FIA, it was called ‘MAC-26’. Both GM President Mark Reuss and I agreed: we want Mario to be a part of this team forever.”
For Andretti himself, the gesture still came as a surprise. “I certainly wouldn’t have expected them to do something like that for me,” the icon says modestly. At the season opener in Melbourne, where Cadillac was on site for observation, he was enthusiastic about the first look of the car: “The car looks very good! When everything has calmed down a bit, I’d like to secretly take a lap,” he jokes.
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Proud of the “risk-takers” in the team
Andretti is particularly proud of the team working in the factories in Fishers (Indiana) and Silverstone. Many employees left secure jobs at established Formula 1 teams to join a project whose future hung by a thread for a long time.
“They are very experienced people who took the risk of coming to us before anything was even approved,” Andretti emphasizes. “They saw the potential and the long-term commitment. Cadillac’s management is involved with full pride. The fact that the largest car manufacturer in the USA is committing to Formula 1 in this way for the first time in history is good for the sport.”
Rivalry with Ford and focus on Colton Herta
The arrival of Cadillac also fuels a historic US rivalry: Cadillac versus Ford, who are cooperating with Red Bull. For Andretti, who celebrated some of his greatest victories (Daytona 500, 12h Sebring, Indy 500) with Ford power, this is a blessing: “Competition brings out the best in all of us. It brings even more eyes to our sport.”
The Cadillac design for 2026
Andretti also paid special attention to Colton Herta in Melbourne. The Cadillac development driver and IndyCar star is currently trying to recommend himself for a Formula 1 cockpit via the Formula 2 junior series. With a controlled seventh place in the main race, he performed damage control in Australia.
“You can tell he really, really wants it,” Andretti says passionately. “It has to start with that inner passion. He used his head today, just wanted to finish and get a feel for everything. I respect that a lot.”
With the name “Andretti” on the chassis and the power of General Motors behind it, the Cadillac F1 project seems to be finally gaining momentum – and the legend Andretti will symbolically ride along in every kilometer in 2026.
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