Cadillac set to boost new F1 team with mega factory

Cadillac is planning on building a new $150 million factory in North Carolina as it continues to prepare for its F1 entry, according to government documents.

An agenda for the City of Concorde shows that on Thursday, February 13, a meeting will be held to discuss plans put forward by Cadillac for a 204,045-square-foot facility, near the base of Hendrick Motorsports - the most successful team in NASCAR Cup Series history.

The building itself will consist of a facility costing around $65-70 million, with further investment into equipment and tools worth an extra investment of $65-70 million, bringing the total Cadillac is prepared to invest to the $150 million mark. 

The facility will be used to aid in the development of the power unit for Cadillac's F1 project, with the team set to be a Ferrari customer when it enters in 2026 until Cadillac and General Motors can produce its own works engine, potentially from 2028.

Around 300-350 staff will be hired for the state-of-the-art factory, with work already underway at another nearby GM facility.

In January, Cadillac set up a new power unit, run by CEO Russ O'Blenes, the head of GM's motorsports propulsion and performance division. 

This new facility will work, in tandem, with the one opened at Silverstone by Andretti Global before Cadillac formally took over the entry bid after Michael Andretti stepped back.

The new team principal of Cadillac will be former Marussia boss Greame Lowdon, with former Benetton, Renault, Williams and F1 technical officer Pat Symonds signing up as an engineering consultant.