Cadillac F1 Car Lands in Jay Leno's Garage as GM Explains Why It Chose Cadillac Over Corvette
Not Your Usual Garage Guest
Jay Leno has long featured all kinds of incredible cars, from classics like the recently showcased 1930 Packard 734 Speedster to one-off builds. But his latest feature is not exactly an everyday sight. Leno welcomed General Motors President Mark Reuss and Cadillac's Formula 1 car, which should be the most expensive Cadillac in the garage, with F1 cars costing tens of millions of dollars.
The two kicked things off with perhaps the most obvious question: why not Corvette? After all, GM already offers a customer racing program with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, which competes in major series such as the World Endurance Championship (WEC). But Reuss noted that Cadillac is in the middle of a renaissance, and the brand's link to innovation fits F1, often called the pinnacle of motorsports.
A Steep Learning Curve
As one of F1's newest entrants, Reuss acknowledged the challenge of building a car from the ground up. The sport also introduced new engine regulations in 2026 with a heavier focus on electrification. While GM has plenty of experience in that space through EVs such as the Cadillac Celestiq and Chevrolet Silverado EV, F1 presents a far deeper and more specialized challenge – especially against legacy teams like Ferrari and McLaren.
For now, Cadillac relies on Ferrari power units while GM develops its own. That makes the timing interesting, especially with reports that V8 engines could return to the sport around 2030 or 2031.
Aside from brand exposure, Cadillac can use racing data to help develop its road cars. In fact, the luxury marque recently unveiled the CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series, the most powerful Blackwing yet at 685 horsepower and limited to just 26 units. It will be interesting to see what future Cadillac projects F1 could inspire, especially with cars like the Mercedes-AMG One, which uses an F1-derived engine, dominating the performance world.
Experience Shapes the Car
Of course, Reuss did not spill everything. When the talk turned to engine complexity, aerodynamics, and weight, some details stayed off the table, because in F1, giving too much away can give rivals an edge.
The Cadillac F1 team currently fields Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. While both have often been seen as number-two drivers throughout their careers, they bring valuable veteran experience – something a young team needs for consistent, reliable feedback.
Through the first four races of the 2026 season, however, Cadillac has yet to score its first point. But expectations are likely modest in its debut season, and Jay Leno may have summed it up best for American fans, seeing the brand on the grid.
"So proud as an American to see an American team. I really get that pride. It's really exciting to see," Leno said.
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM.