Russ O’Blenes has been appointed as GM Performance Power Units CEO. Credit: General Motors.

General Motors (GM), in partnership with TWG Motorsports, has established a new company, GM Performance Power Units LLC, to position the Cadillac brand as a Formula 1 motorsport competitor.  

In November, GM and TWG signed an agreement in principle with Formula 1 to add an 11th team under its Cadillac brand.

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The new company will focus on developing powertrains for the Cadillac Formula 1 team, which is set to join the grid in 2026.

Furthermore, Russ O’Blenes, who has over three decades of experience in motorsports engineering, has been appointed as the CEO of GM Performance Power Units.

O’Blenes is currently the director of GM Motorsports Propulsion and Performance.

In the new role, O’Blenes will be joining a team of innovators at TWG Motorsports and GM, aiming to establish a technological foundation for Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1.

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GM president Mark Reuss said: “Russ brings vast experience from many championship racing series, and has outstanding technical expertise, including spearheading our hybrid IMSA Cadillac and Corvette C8.R engines that are proven winners.

“In F1, we’re going to demonstrate GM’s engineering and technology capabilities on a global stage, and Russ is the right choice to lead the Power Unit team that will make it happen.”

The development and testing of the team’s prototype engine technology is currently in progress.

A dedicated facility for GM Performance Power Units LLC is slated to open near GM’s Charlotte Technical Center in 2026, GM said.

The General Motors/Cadillac F1 project signed an agreement in December 2024 with Italian firm Ferrari for the supply of power units.

The Italian manufacturer will also supply gearboxes starting in 2026 to the General Motors/Cadillac F1 project, until their own power units are developed.

Cadillac Formula 1 team was founded in 2024 through a partnership between TWG Motorsports and General Motors.