McLaren CEO Backs Cadillac's F1 Entry, Cites Added Value

McLaren CEO Zak Brown shares his thoughts on Cadillac's entry into Formula 1, highlighting the benefits of added competition, sponsorship, and fan engagement.

“Will we get a better US TV deal, more American presence? I think their sponsors and Cadillac will spend money in the sport...”

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, believes Cadillac's entry into Formula 1 as an 11th team will bring added value to the sport. He expects the new team to attract fresh financial partners and boost fan engagement, rather than draining resources from existing teams. With their European headquarters near Silverstone, Cadillac has already poached staff from rival teams and is actively competing for sponsorship deals.

Zak Brown, McLaren's CEO, is optimistic about Cadillac's entry into Formula 1, believing it will bring added value rather than dilute resources. “I think on employees they are definitely going to take a lot more than they give, which is fine,” he said. “My general view is if someone wants to go work for a rival team then shame on me.” McLaren is currently dominating the championship, having secured the 2024 constructors' title.

Zak Brown believes Cadillac's entry into Formula 1 will bring benefits, including new sponsorship opportunities. “For sponsors, I think they'll bring more new to the table than take,” he said. Brown also expects the team to increase competition and attract more fans, particularly with the series now featuring three U.S. rounds and a growing American audience. As newcomers, however, Cadillac faces a significant challenge.

“Will we get a better US TV deal, more American presence? I think their sponsors and Cadillac will spend money in the sport, the teams get a percentage of that so I see them as a value add to the sport,” he added.

“I'm not worried about maybe some of the short term-ness of they are going to take an employee here or there or poach a sponsor here or there. I think the contribution will be bigger than that.”

BREAKING: Cadillac confirmed as 11th team on the 2026 F1 grid#F1 pic.twitter.com/V5eoWfQCYX

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2025

Cadillac's Formula 1 bid was approved in March after a 764-day process, despite initial opposition from F1 and the other 10 teams who were concerned about potential revenue sharing implications. The team is backed by TWG Global, led by CEO Mark Walter, who has an estimated net worth of $12.5 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Cadillac, the first new team to join F1 since Haas in 2016, reported in July that they're already two-thirds of the way to their target of 600 staff members by next season, rapidly growing to become a significant presence in the sport.