Major former Audi figure makes Cadillac F1 switch - report

It has been reported that Cadillac has signed former Audi Formula Racing chief executive Adam Baker.

According to Motorsport Magazin, Baker has been signed by F1's newest outfit and will become the chief operating officer of Cadillac's engine factory. 

Cadillac will enter F1 next season as a Ferrari customer team, and will run power units supplied by the Scuderia until at least the end of the 2028 campaign. 

The current plan for the American squad is to become its own powertrain supplier from 2029, becoming a full factory F1 team. 

Next year, Cadillac will open an F1 engine factory near General Motors' Technical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Baker will be responsible for building Cadillac's engine department, and will meet Russ O'Blenes, General Motors' Performance Power Units CEO, in Charlotte. 

According to the publication, it remains unclear whether Cadillac will develop a powertrain for the current regulations or prepare for a potential switch to V10s or V8s. 

The new power unit regulations are set to run until 2030, although talks are reportedly under way for an early change. 

Should the new regulations remain in place for the full cycle, it is already being questioned if it is profitable for Cadillac to design an engine for just two seasons; however, a major reason behind it's acceptance onto the grid was its promise to become an OEM. 

Regardless of the decision made by Cadillac and no matter what changes F1 makes to the new regulations, Baker is a key signing. 

Baker previously worked at the FIA as its safety director, but moved to Audi before its own F1 project was approved. 

He was responsible for setting up the German manufacturer's engine department, but left by 'mutual consent' in May earlier this year after Mattia Binotto took over the whole Audi F1 project.