Cadillac Deliver ‘Fully Legal’ Swipe at Rivals Amid F1 Engine Controversy

Cadillac has issued a firm statement amid a growing Formula 1 technical debate, with team principal Graeme Lowdon insisting the new American outfit will compete in 2026 using a power unit that is fully compliant with the regulations.

The comments follow reports during the winter suggesting that Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, and potentially Red Bull Powertrains, may have identified a way to exceed the new compression ratio limit of 16:1 when the car is running on track.

According to those reports, the engines would return to the mandated 16:1 compression ratio when measured at ambient temperature in the pit lane, while operating at a higher effective ratio during running. If such an interpretation were allowed, it could represent a significant performance advantage.

Estimates suggest that at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, the potential gain could reach approximately 0.3 seconds per lap, amounting to roughly 17.4 seconds over the full 58-lap race distance of the season-opening Grand Prix.

The discussion intensified after Ben Hodgkinson did not fully dismiss the existence of such an approach during Red Bull’s recent car launch. Mercedes is scheduled to unveil its 2026 challenger later this week, further heightening scrutiny.

For Cadillac, however, the controversy does not directly apply. The team will contest its debut Formula 1 season using a customer power unit supplied by Ferrari and has already completed an initial shakedown at Silverstone.

Speaking after that first on-track outing, Lowdon emphasised that regulatory clarity and compliance underpin Cadillac’s technical direction.

“What I am very confident and happy about is that we have a fully legal engine,” Lowdon told Sky Sports News.

Lowdon pointed directly to the wording of the new regulations governing combustion and compression ratios.

“With these engines, combustion is not allowed to take place at a compression ratio above 16 to 1.”

While declining to expand on specific technical details, Lowdon underlined Ferrari’s adherence to the rules.

“Without going into too many details, we know that Ferrari have fully followed the regulations as they are written. That gives us a great deal of confidence.”

Lowdon also stressed that Cadillac’s focus is on extracting maximum performance within the regulatory framework, rather than pursuing aggressive interpretations.

“In terms of performance, we work with and support our power unit partner to the absolute maximum. We are very happy with the relationship.”

He made clear that Cadillac would not speculate on how rival manufacturers interpret the rules.

“I cannot really comment on other power units or how others have interpreted the regulations,” Lowdon said.
“But for me, the regulation is extremely clear. It is there in black and white.”

Lowdon concluded by highlighting his previous experience working with Ferrari and the significance of the partnership for Cadillac’s Formula 1 project.

“I have worked with Ferrari a number of times before. They are great partners,” he said.

“Ferrari is an iconic name in Formula 1. The people in that organisation are real racers, and we are pleased to welcome them as part of the Cadillac Formula 1 team.”

As Formula 1 enters a new regulatory era, Cadillac’s stance positions the team as a conservative but transparent newcomer, prioritising compliance and long term credibility while others face scrutiny over early technical interpretations.