Cadillac has reportedly secured former Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker to help lead its Formula 1 power unit ambitions, with Motorsport Magazin reporting that he will become Chief Operating Officer of the brand’s new F1 engine facility near General Motors’ Technical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Building Cadillac’s F1 engine programme
As Cadillac prepares to enter Formula 1 next season as a Ferrari customer team, Baker will be tasked with building out the engine department that underpins the marque’s transition to a full factory operation. The current plan is to run Ferrari power units until at least the end of 2028, then become an OEM powertrain supplier from 2029.
The report adds that Baker will work closely with Russ O’Blenes, GM’s Performance Power Units CEO, in Charlotte as the new facility comes online.
Regulatory uncertainty and strategic choices
According to the report, it remains unclear whether Cadillac will develop a power unit tailored to today’s regulations or await potential changes, with discussions reportedly ongoing around a possible shift away from the current hybrid formula before 2030. With the existing power unit rules set to run through 2030, questions have been raised about the viability of investing in an all-new engine for only two seasons. Nonetheless, Cadillac’s commitment to becoming an OEM was a significant factor in its acceptance onto the grid.
Why Adam Baker matters
Baker previously served as the FIA’s safety director before moving to Audi, where he was responsible for setting up the German manufacturer’s F1 engine department. He left the project by mutual consent in May, following Mattia Binotto’s appointment to oversee the wider Audi F1 programme. His experience in standing up a power unit operation makes him a key hire as Cadillac scales its own effort.
- Customer phase: Ferrari power units through at least 2028
- Factory goal: Cadillac power units from 2029
- Base of operations: New engine facility near GM’s Technical Center in Charlotte
- Leadership link: Coordination with GM Performance Power Units under Russ O’Blenes
