Cadillac F1 launches 2026 livery with Super Bowl ad

Cadillac has revealed its first Formula 1 livery ahead of the 2026 season in high-profile style, via a commercial that ran during the Super Bowl and an accompanying event in Times Square.

The minimalist design was broadcast with a voiceover of President John F. Kennedy's speech announcing plans for the Apollo moon landing to emphasize the magnitude of the challenge facing the new team on the F1 grid. In an unusual touch, the livery is asymmetrical, with one white side and one black side, carrying prominent branding from TWG AI – which will also be featured on Will Power's Andretti Global IndyCar and the Andretti Formula E entries – and additional branding from Jim Beam, Claro and Core Scientific.

“This livery represents far more than a paint scheme; it represents who we are and what we bring to Formula 1,’’ Cadillac F1 Team CEO Dan Towriss said. “Every detail is intentional: bold, modern, and unmistakably American, while respecting the heritage and precision that define this sport.

“Choosing to reveal our first race livery during the Super Bowl and in the heart of Times Square is a way to introduce our identity to the world at the intersection of performance, culture, and entertainment, and to connect with fans in places far beyond the paddock.”

The design is described by Cadillac as one that “evokes speed when the car is stationary” while the gradient is a subtle nod to the co-ownership of General Motors and the iconic Cadillac symbol.

Further explaining the design philosophy for the unusual approach, Cadillac says it has aimed for “a yin-and-yang balance expressed through stark black and white, where grit, determination, and performance meet aspiration, optimism and ambition”. The car will run in the livery for the first time on Monday in Bahrain during a filming day.

“Unveiling our official race livery is a huge milestone in a journey that started years ago - earning our place on the grid, assembling a world‑class team, and developing a race car worthy of Formula 1,” GM president Mark Reuss said. “The momentum is building toward Melbourne and our grand prix debut. For GM, this race car showcases the American innovation, spirit, and pride we want to bring to the global stage of F1.”

Team principal Graeme Lowdon believes the livery unveiling provides an example of how Cadillac plans on taking a different approach to the way it activates as an F1 team.

“I’m incredibly proud to reveal the colors of our 2026 Formula 1 challenger,” Lowdon said. “We are a team built on bold ambition and leadership in innovation, values which we exhibited today by tapping into one of the most culturally significant sporting events in the world in a manner that has never been done by a Formula 1 team before.”

Both cars of a Formula 1 team have to run in predominantly the same livery, preventing two different designs being run on each car. That necessitates the half-and-half approach, something previously seen in 1999 when newcomer British American Racing (BAR) tried to run a different sponsor livery on each of its two cars but then adapted the design to feature both sponsors and a zip down the middle of the two halves.