F1’s new Cadillac racing team ‘could give Aussie star Daniel Ricciardo a career lifeline’ after his Red Bull axing

Formula 1 will add an eleventh team to the grid for the 2026 season, with Cadillac, a division of US carmaker General Motors, expected to join the premier motorsport circuit.

It is understood that Cadillac and those involved in the bidding process have “achieved operational milestones” that have signaled their commitment to establishing the new venture, despite major opposition from other teams on the grid.

The move, initially led by Andretti, was rejected in January. Andretti is owned by ex-Formula 1 driver Michael Andretti, the son of Mario Andretti. Although the Andretti name has been dropped from the bid, Mario is still involved in the project.

“Formula 1 today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support the introduction of GM/Cadillac as the eleventh team in Formula 1 in 2026,” a Formula 1 spokesperson said on Monday.

“Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the feasibility of an entry following Formula 1’s commercial assessment and decision in January 2024.”

The news, which came just 48 hours after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, has got many motorsport fans talking about who could potentially race for the new American team in 2026.

They will be the eleventh team on the grid after F1 bosses rubber-stamped their proposed entry

According to The Nocturnalthe new team could offer Daniel Ricciardo an ‘opportunity to review his driving career’.

The Australian driver was fired by Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, after the Singapore Grand Prix.

The 35-year-old driver was shown the door after his indifferent performances this season. Ricciardo’s highest finish came in June at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished eighth in the standings.

He would eventually finish 18th in Singapore, prompting Red Bull bosses to make a brutal decision to ax the fan favourite.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had also suggested that VCARB had given Ricciardo a second chance.

‘He was informed in a timely manner and – in his own words – is at peace with himself. I also think that the fastest race lap he set was a worthy farewell performance,” he wrote in his column for SpeedWeek.

“He was given a second chance that no one else would have given him.

‘And this was done on the assumption that a return to Red Bull Racing is possible if his performance is up to standard. The Racing Bulls team was therefore always only intended as a stopover.’

The Australian driver was fired by Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, after the Singapore Grand Prix.

It came after Ricciardo endured a tough year on the track, with his highest race finish coming at the Canadian Grand Prix where he finished eighth.

Reflecting on his performance, Marko had given an honest assessment of the Australian driver’s form, stating that he had lost his ‘killer instinct’.

“But other than that, the speed wasn’t there and the consistency wasn’t there either. The entire performance that would justify a promotion to Red Bull Racing was missing. But that was the point of the whole thing,” Marko said.

He added, “But [Ricciardo’s] the same killer instinct was simply no longer recognizable. He was known for his uncompromising overtaking maneuvers and braking at the last point. But that was no longer the case either.’

There is speculation that Singapore could be the last time we see Ricciardo in a Formula 1 car.

He was recently photographed on Instagram wearing a cap with the message: ‘I’m retired, having fun is my job.’

In September he had stated that he ‘has a good idea’ that he may have driven his last race in F1.

Asked if Singapore was his last race, he told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Possibly, possibly, yes. So if that’s the case, I think it’s a nice way to say adios.”

He added, “I’m not too sure what the plan is, but I mean, look, I obviously have a good idea.”

Ricciardo hasn’t spoken about what’s in store for the future, but he’s rumored to be racing in the Australian Super Cars competition

Nevertheless, given his experience, the Australian would be a nice addition to the Cadillac team.

Ricciardo has competed in 258 races in his career, winning eight and achieving 32 podium finishes.

Plenty of new career opportunities could be on his doorstep.

The ever-charismatic driver could pursue a career in broadcasting, while some have also tried to persuade him to enter other motorsport competitions, including a chance to compete in Australia’s Bathurst 1000 race.