Cadillac is doing something that no other Formula 1 team has done before: opening the door to F1 for University of Michigan students and the Motor City, the heart of U.S. automotive innovation.
Cadillac is joining the F1 grid in 2026 with the goal of becoming a full-works team by the end of the decade. The team’s production and testing facilities will be split between the United Kingdom and the United States, with its U.S. facilities located in Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina.
Having General Motors, a member of Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers, along with Ford Motor Company and Stellantis, represented at the pinnacle of motorsports will put the Motor City on the fast track to the global racing circuit — and the innovation and technology that fuel it. Not only will Americans have a team to root for when it comes to race day, but U.S. students will have greater access to new opportunities in the world of motorsports. In particular, this entrance places the University’s students in a position to best take advantage of these new opportunities.
Cadillac’s F1 team has been continuously gaining traction over the past few years. So much so that the team piqued the interest of race-winning drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Commentators and experts forecast the team to be a formidable midfield contender. With so much international support, Cadillac is on a trajectory for midfield and possibly championship success in the future. Midfield success in its early seasons would bring immense money and resources into Cadillac’s facilities, including any training opportunities for college students.
The opportunities for American students in F1 are critical since they are currently scarce. Although F1 has grown in popularity worldwide since its first world championship in 1950, the racing circuit is still mainly composed of European drivers, teams, manufacturers. Most teams have junior training programs and internships. In these programs, university students across Europe are able to study a variety of disciplines in the team’s facilities, including broadcasting and journalism, engineering, production and business.
But these overseas programs often run year-round or during the academic year, making it difficult for American students to participate. Cadillac’s decision to join F1 is sure to bring these opportunities closer to home for the University’s students.
The University’s students are already making waves on the motorsport map, and their familiarity with and proximity to Detroit’s automotive scene gives them a head start on future opportunities within the team. The University is home to MRacing, a world-renowned Formula SAE team that was founded in 1986. Formula SAE, or the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers, is an organization with hundreds of teams across the globe that build F1-style cars and compete against one another in a series of events to test certain aspects of the team such as design, performance and business. Since then, MRacing has been a competitive force on both the national and globe scale of Formula SAE, where they have placed first among teams in the United States numerous times. Industry professionals regard SAE highly, and employers seek out this experience among applicants.
The University’s success in Formula SAE in tandem with access to possible internship and training opportunities from Cadillac’s F1 facilities could streamline greater success for students with a passion for motorsports. Students who are aiming to reach the pinnacle of motorsports should get involved in the University’s motorsports teams like MRacing and the Michigan Baja Racing.
Even for students who choose not to stay in F1, the knowledge gained through opportunities within Cadillac’s F1 team will not only translate to success in Michigan’s Formula SAE but to the dozens of employers that hire University alumni. Among these employers are Detroit auto manufacturers, which have historically been a top employer of the College of Engineering graduates. Additionally, many F1 teams have internships and other opportunities for university students across an array of disciplines including advertising, content creation and marketing, business development and hospitality.
Whether students decide to pursue a career in motorsports or simply explore their passion, the knowledge gained from working on the cars and the business behind them in motorsports applies to the U.S. automotive market and countless other industries. Strategic business moves between sponsors and teams can provide valuable insight to company models and partnerships, which is sure to appeal to Detroit’s “Big Three.”
Opportunities are fast-paced and cut-throat in F1. While it is not a guarantee that Cadillac will emphasize student talent in the U.S. through these programs, it is more likely that programs within this team will be more active in recruiting U.S. university students. There is immense talent across U.S. universities that would benefit the F1 grid. Cadillac’s rich history in Detroit has been at the forefront of the GM company for decades and it is unlikely that this key characteristic would disappear now, especially with the team’s emphasis on bringing American talent to Formula 1.
Cadillac’s entry into the F1 paddock doesn’t just help students interested in breaking into the motorsports scene, but its effects will be felt throughout the state. As with any major achievement, Michiganders — and the University’s students by extension — will feel an immense sense of pride in their automotive industry successfully joining the pinnacle of motorsports.
F1 is a fast-paced, highly competitive environment that embraces adaptability. Working in an industry like F1 comes with resilience and a drive to win, and that’s something the University’s students know how to do.
Lara Terpstra is an Opinion Columnist who writes about politics, pop-culture and automotives in her column “The Crossover.” She can be reached at laralee@umich.edu.
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