– Formula 1 newcomer Cadillac has started its first season as expected: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez mostly lagged behind in the Cadillac MAC-26 – without realistic chances for championship points. The color design of the vehicle also appears similarly unspectacular: Cadillac relies on unusual asymmetrical patterns in the first year, but exclusively in black and white with chrome accents.
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Why the US team – unlike many competitors – refrains from striking color accents was explained by CEO Dan Towriss as follows: “The significance of colors played a central role in the development of the design.”
“Black stands for the bold, determined aura of the vehicle. The black side of the vehicle appears aggressive, almost intimidating. It conveys character and presence.”
Photo series: The Cadillac design for 2026
“White, on the other hand, is traditionally considered America’s racing color. Therefore, white should definitely be part of the vehicle,” said Towriss. White appears to him “fresh, clear, and optimistic.” The Cadillac identity in Formula 1 arises “from the balanced interplay of these two opposites,” explained Towriss.
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Why Cadillac forgoes its “house colors” in Formula 1
But there would have been other options: The traditional Cadillac house colors include red, yellow, and blue, as seen for example in the classic Cadillac logo. “Many associate Cadillac with these colors,” said Towriss. “But especially in the high-performance segment, we often rely on a monochrome appearance – for example with models of the V-Series.”
“It was precisely this brand core that we wanted to orient ourselves to in the Formula 1 project. After all, it is the ‘king class’ of motorsport. This ultimately resulted in the color choice of black, white, and chrome as the defining visual identity of the team.”
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