GM set to become F1 engine supplier

The FIA has officially approved General Motors to become a Formula 1 engine supplier, starting from 2029. This decision paves the way for GM to bring its own American-built power units to the world’s most prestigious motorsport series, with plans to power the Cadillac F1 team, which will join the grid next year.

For the first three years, the Cadillac team will use Ferrari engines while GM continues to work on its power units. The switch to GM engines will happen in 2029, once the new power unit is ready and fully certified by the FIA. Russ O’Blenes, CEO of GM Performance Power Units LLC, explained, “With this approval from the FIA, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid.”

The development of GM’s F1 engine is a partnership effort between General Motors and TWG Motorsports, which is closely linked to Andretti Global. The new engines will be designed and built at a dedicated facility near GM’s Charlotte Technical Center in North Carolina. This development will propel GM’s status as the only American manufacturer in the current F1 engine supplier lineup.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed GM’s entry, saying, “Welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC. as an approved power unit supplier for the Championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors,” He added, “their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA’s vision for the future of our sport.”

GM’s timing comes as Formula 1 considers changes to its engine rules. There has been discussion about moving away from the complex turbo hybrid engines currently used, possibly returning to simpler V8 or V10 engines powered by sustainable fuels. 

Such a change could make it easier and less expensive for new companies like GM to compete. Even if the rules stay the same, GM’s engines will debut after the 2026 update, which will increase the use of electrical power. By entering in 2029, GM avoids the risk of investing in technology that may soon be replaced.