Cadillac unveils stealthy monochrome livery for Barcelona Shakedown: a glimpse into F1's newest team

As Formula 1's newest addition prepares to make its historic debut, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team has unveiled its first-ever livery—a striking monochrome design that prioritizes strategic secrecy over spectacle. The sleek black and silver temporary livery will debut at Barcelona's pre-season shakedown at the end of January, marking a calculated move by the American manufacturer to conceal its aerodynamic innovations during the critical early testing phase.

The strategy behind the stealthy design

The decision to employ a monochrome testing livery reflects long-established F1 tradition. As teams prepare for the 2026 season, which will introduce sweeping technical regulations, obscuring the car's aerodynamic shapes during pre-season testing serves a practical purpose—protecting competitive advantages from rival teams and media scrutiny. Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss articulated this philosophy, stating that the Barcelona livery is "honoring automotive heritage while looking ahead as we build toward the 2026 season."

The design features Cadillac's distinctive crest alongside the names of the team's founding members from both its Silverstone and US operations, celebrating the collaborative effort required to establish a new Formula 1 operation from the ground up. General Motors CEO Mark Reuss acknowledged this balance at Detroit headquarters, emphasizing that while the low-key aesthetic maintains design secrecy, it simultaneously celebrates the global nature of Cadillac's F1 venture.

A brief moment before the grand reveal

The Barcelona shakedown represents merely an opening act in Cadillac's carefully orchestrated launch strategy. The team's definitive 2026 race livery will be unveiled on February 8 during a Super Bowl halftime advertisement—a marketing gambit that brings unprecedented mainstream visibility to Formula 1 during one of American television's most-watched broadcasts. This unconventional timing reflects Cadillac and General Motors' ambitions to position their F1 entry as a distinctly American endeavor with global aspirations.

"Debuting our race livery during a globally televised championship broadcast challenges convention and brings Cadillac Formula 1 to a global audience," Towriss explained. The strategic sequencing—temporary testing livery in January, official race livery in February, and competitive debut on March 8 at the Australian Grand Prix—demonstrates how meticulous preparation underpins the team's approach to establishing itself within motorsport's premier category.

Building from the ground up

Under the leadership of Graeme Lowdon, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team operates from dual bases in Silverstone and the United States, positioning itself uniquely between British motorsport tradition and American engineering innovation. The team's driver pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez—representing a combined 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 wins—provides experienced guidance as the organization navigates its inaugural season.

The coming weeks will be instrumental for Cadillac's development trajectory. After the Barcelona shakedown (January 26-30), official pre-season testing begins in Bahrain (February 11-13 and 18-20), providing the team crucial opportunities to evaluate its 2026 machinery before competitive racing commences. The monochrome livery will serve as a temporary shield during this critical phase, allowing Cadillac's engineers to gather vital performance data without exposing their competitive package to rival teams.

With the official race livery set to make its Super Bowl debut, Formula 1's 11th team is executing a measured, strategic entry into the sport—one where even a test livery communicates ambition, heritage, and calculated precision.