Cadillac’s long-awaited arrival in Formula 1 is no longer an abstract promise – it now has a face, a form, and a visual language. With the unveiling of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s Special Edition testing livery at General Motors’ new global headquarters in Detroit, the iconic American marque has revealed not just a race car, but a carefully crafted design statement ahead of its historic debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.
Unveiled by General Motors President Mark Reuss at the Hudson’s Detroit building, the livery will be used during Shakedown Week in Barcelona, Spain, January 26–30, before the team presents its final race livery on February 8. It marks the first visual chapter in Cadillac’s F1 story – and it is unmistakably deliberate.
Developed through a cross-continental collaboration between the GM Global Design team and Cadillac Formula 1® Team, the Barcelona Shakedown livery reflects Cadillac’s broader ambition: blending American luxury, European motorsport rigor, and a design philosophy rooted in heritage but focused squarely on the future.
The unveiling itself was rich in symbolism. An F1 show car wearing the Barcelona Shakedown livery now sits inside GM’s new Detroit headquarters, just miles from Cadillac’s original home in the city. The car will also appear at the Detroit Auto Show until January 25, giving enthusiasts a rare chance to see Cadillac’s Formula 1 design language in person before it reaches the racetrack.
While visually striking, this livery serves a deeper purpose. In Formula 1, testing liveries traditionally disguise aerodynamic surfaces, much like camouflaged prototypes in the automotive world. Cadillac’s designers embraced that challenge, turning functional secrecy into an artistic expression.
“Our new testing livery celebrates Detroit’s design heritage and the power of the global Cadillac Formula 1® team, while keeping our design secrets under wraps,” Reuss said. “The Barcelona test is just the beginning – we can’t wait to share our official race livery with fans around the world next month.”
A Modern Crest for a Global Stage
The monochrome palette creates a striking, premium presence built around a modern interpretation of the Cadillac crest and shield, which anchors the car visually. A large Cadillac crest draped across the rear does double duty – boldly announcing the brand’s arrival while artfully masking aerodynamic surfaces.
Vertical Cadillac precision geometric patterns, rendered in alternating gloss and matte finishes, run through the bodywork, creating a textured, almost architectural skin that conceals form while celebrating brand DNA. It’s a design that feels simultaneously restrained and powerful, more haute couture than camouflage.
The effect is intentional. Clean line work and disciplined color blocking reinforce a technical, future-forward aesthetic, aligning Cadillac’s visual identity with its performance ambitions at the pinnacle of global motorsport.
There is also a deeply human layer embedded in the design. As a nod to the U.S. and U.K. teams building Cadillac’s Formula 1 future, the names of the founding members from both countries are incorporated into the livery – an elegant detail that connects craftsmanship, collaboration, and legacy.
Tradition Meets Tomorrow
For Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1® Team Holdings, the dual-livery strategy reflects Cadillac’s willingness to challenge convention.
“Cadillac Formula 1® is committed to innovation on and off the track,” Towriss said. “TWG combined with General Motors allows us to rethink the norm and introduce the team in bold new ways. Debuting our race livery during a globally televised championship broadcast challenges convention and brings Cadillac Formula 1® to a global audience. Paired with this special-edition testing livery designed by the GM Global Design studios, we’re honoring automotive heritage while looking ahead as we build toward the 2026 season.”
The official 2026 Formula 1 race livery will be unveiled on February 8, offering fans the first look at the design that will compete throughout the season. But in many ways, the Barcelona Shakedown livery is already doing something more subtle and arguably more powerful: it’s introducing Cadillac’s design philosophy to the world of Formula 1.
By revealing the car in Detroit – inside a building that symbolizes General Motors’ future while sitting just miles from Cadillac’s original headquarters – the brand has visually linked its storied past to its Formula 1 future.
As Cadillac prepares for Barcelona, Melbourne, and its place on the global grid, this first livery stands as more than a test suit. It is a declaration that American luxury, when filtered through motorsport, can be as precise, disciplined, and globally relevant as anything Formula 1 has ever seen.
Image Source: Cadillac
