Cadillac explain significant difference in major Ferrari partnership

Cadillac F1 consultant Pat Symonds has highlighted the team has no desire to buy as many parts as possible from Ferrari and mimic other customer teams.

Cadillac is joining the grid this year as the team expands to 11 teams for the first time since the 2016 season.

It signed an agreement which will see it run Ferrari power units as it looks to enter the 2028 season with its own engine.

Cadillac's approach differs greatly compared to American rival Haas, who has commonly purchased as many parts as allowed by the regulations by Ferrari.

Symonds, however, has declared its intention to ensure it stays as independent as possible.

“We're not doing it in the model of some of our competitors,” Symonds told media including RacingNews365. “So we're taking the engine, and we're taking the gearbox cassette. 

“But the whole of the gearbox carrier, the rear suspension, the front suspension, and indeed all those parts that some other teams are buying from suppliers, we're not doing that. We are designing from scratch.

“I'm a great believer in being in charge of your own destiny. And I think if you are a customer team, to me, that's not the way to win the world championship.” 

During Cadillac's preparations for its maiden season, it has used Ferrari machinery to take part in private tests in an effort to further gel the team together.

Issuing his praise to the Italian squad, Symonds said: “Ferrari has been fantastic to work with. Really, really helpful in every respect.

“Even down to the fact that we've been able to attend some of the testing of previous cars, the TPC testing, just so we can get mechanics working together as a team and things like that.

“So Ferrari are great people work. It's very expedient that we need to do this as an interim.”