Cadillac Takes Cautious Approach to Formula 1 Debut, Says Pat Symonds

Cadillac's Formula 1 team is taking a cautious approach to their debut season, says executive engineering consultant Pat Symonds, citing the challenges of building a car from scratch.

As Cadillac prepares for its 2026 Formula One debut, the General Motors-backed team will prioritize caution when it comes to design deadlines, according to executive engineering consultant Pat Symonds. Although their entry was formally confirmed last month, the team has been working on the car for some time and faces a tight deadline to be ready for pre-season testing.

Cadillac is aware of the challenges that come with building a competitive Formula One car, and the team has brought in experienced personnel, including Symonds, who has been involved in building over 40 cars throughout his decades-long career in the sport. Symonds' expertise includes his work on championship-winning cars with Benetton and Renault. The team is taking a measured approach to ensure they meet their deadlines.

When asked about the timelines for the car's development, Symonds told Reuters, “We have taken what I think is a very conservative approach to producing that car, and I think that's absolutely the right thing to do.” He emphasized the importance of prioritizing caution over aggressive deadlines, explaining, “When you have everything established, you try and push everything to the last minute so you get maximum performance from the car. I don't think that's the right thing to do in our situation.”

According to Pat Symonds, a key figure in the development of Andretti's Formula 1 project, the team is taking a cautious approach to ensure they are fully prepared for their debut season. Symonds referenced the struggles of Williams a few years ago, stating, “We all saw what happened with Williams a few years ago, and we cannot let that sort of thing happen.”

Symonds emphasized the importance of being well-prepared for their first test in Barcelona next year, saying, “We have to be up and running, and we have to be running efficiently... So we've taken quite a conservative approach to what I would say is a well-known problem.” This approach is likely a response to the challenges faced by Williams in 2019, when they missed the first two and a half days of testing due to delays in producing parts.

Symonds also highlighted the difficulties new teams face in getting two cars ready in time. He noted that Andretti has had to create processes from scratch, citing a recent design discussion about the challenge of meeting the weight limit. This example illustrates the complexity of the task at hand and the need for careful planning and execution.

Pat Symonds explained that one of the challenges Andretti faces as a new team is the lack of an existing car to build upon. He illustrated this point by saying, “Anyone who's got an existing car can say 'OK, well look, let's take this front upright. What can we do to get 10% of the weight out of it?' And you've got a starting point, you've got a target.” In contrast, Andretti must start from scratch, making tasks like weight reduction more difficult. Symonds noted, “We don't have that starting point, so things like that are difficult.”

Symonds also highlighted the complexity of building a team's infrastructure, citing the need to order trucks a year in advance and the challenges of hiring staff. He explained that long notice periods and 'gardening leave' requirements delay start dates, saying, “We've got lots of people who want to come and work for us. Lots of people in the pipeline. Really, really good people. People I'm really happy to employ. But I'm not going to see them until much later.”

Although Cadillac's debut car will eventually be built in the United States at their new racing facility in Fishers, Indiana, the manufacture of parts has been contracted out to suppliers in Britain, where the design team is based. Symonds noted that this arrangement has its advantages, saying, “We're very close to a DHL hub there (in Indianapolis). We can get stuff over to the UK or to anywhere in the world very easily.” He also pointed out that having a hub in America could be beneficial, given the three Formula 1 races scheduled to take place in the United States. Symonds concluded, “Having a hub in America might actually be an advantage... So I'm not worried about it.”