Cadillac Reveal Special Edition Livery for Barcelona F1 Shakedown

Cadillac have taken a major step toward their long-awaited Formula 1 debut by unveiling a special edition testing livery for the all-team Barcelona Shakedown, scheduled to take place from January 26–30. The one-off design offers fans an early glimpse of Cadillac’s identity on the F1 grid—while cleverly concealing crucial aerodynamic details ahead of the 2026 season.

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team, backed by General Motors, will officially enter the sport this year, with experienced race winners Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez returning to the grid as the team’s inaugural driver pairing. While Cadillac’s full race livery will be revealed on February 8 during the Super Bowl, this Barcelona shakedown car serves as a symbolic and strategic preview of what’s to come.

A camouflaged livery with purpose

In keeping with Formula 1 tradition, Cadillac’s Barcelona livery adopts a monochrome, camouflaged concept designed to mask aerodynamic surfaces during early running. The design blends gloss and matte geometric patterns, creating visual disruption that helps obscure bodywork details—particularly important in a season shaped by sweeping regulation changes.

A striking oversized Cadillac crest draped across the rear of the car anchors the design, combining brand presence with functional disguise. Clean vertical lines and restrained color blocking reinforce a technical, future-forward aesthetic aligned with Cadillac’s performance ambitions at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Beyond camouflage, the livery carries emotional weight. The names of the founding members of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from both the United States and the UK have been subtly integrated into the design, symbolizing the transatlantic collaboration behind the project.

 

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Honoring heritage while looking forward

“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,” said Mark Reuss, President of General Motors. “The Barcelona test is just the beginning—we can’t wait to share our official race livery with fans around the world next month.”

The livery was developed through close collaboration between GM Global Design and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, underscoring the brand’s intent to blend automotive heritage with modern racing innovation. The reveal itself took place at GM’s new Hudson’s Detroit headquarters, further tying Cadillac’s Formula 1 future to its historic roots in the Motor City.

A bold debut strategy

CEO Dan Towriss emphasized Cadillac’s unconventional approach to entering Formula 1. “Debuting our race livery during a globally televised championship broadcast challenges convention and brings Cadillac Formula 1 to a global audience,” he said. “This special-edition testing livery honors our past while signaling where we’re headed.”

Before heading to Barcelona, Cadillac are expected to conduct an initial shakedown at Silverstone, marking the first on-track steps of one of the most anticipated new entries in modern F1 history.

As anticipation builds toward the Australian Grand Prix season opener, Cadillac’s Barcelona shakedown livery represents more than camouflage—it’s a statement of intent from an iconic American brand ready to leave its mark on the global Formula 1 stage.