The new power units will be produced at a specialized facility in Charlotte, North Carolina
Less than two months after GM and TWG Motorsports secured approval to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026, the two companies have established a new powertrain division, GM Performance Power Units LLC, to manufacture F1 engines in the United States. Led by Russ O’Blenes, the company is set to play a key role in Cadillac’s transformation into a full-fledged works team.
Initially, Cadillac planned to source engines externally for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. This was confirmed when GM registered with the FIA as a power unit supplier starting in 2028. However, the team recently announced a multi-year engine supply agreement with Ferrari, signaling that Ferrari engines will power Cadillac’s cars until GM’s units are ready, expected “by the end of the decade.”
Cadillac’s Racing Engines to Be Made in the U.S.
The new F1 power units will be produced at a dedicated facility near GM’s Charlotte Technical Center in North Carolina, making them the only F1 engines manufactured in the U.S. In contrast, other current suppliers—Ferrari, Mercedes, HondaRBPT, and Renault—build their engines in Italy, the UK, Japan, and France, respectively.
Experienced Leadership
Russ O’Blenes brings extensive experience to his leadership role, having overseen powertrain development for championship-winning race cars and production vehicles, including the IMSA Cadillac Hypercar and Corvette C8.R. He also led the development of the GM Performance and Racing Center in Pontiac, Michigan, and the company’s eCrate electric crate motor initiative.
“Russ brings vast experience from many championship racing series and outstanding technical expertise,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “In F1, we’re going to showcase GM’s engineering and technology capabilities on a global stage, and Russ is the right person to lead our Power Unit team.”
Origins of Cadillac’s F1 Team
The Cadillac team emerged from Andretti’s unsuccessful bid to secure a spot on the F1 grid. Mario Andretti, a key figure in the project, will serve as a director on the team’s board.
