Cadillac Boss Backs Ferrari Amid Engine Controversy in Formula 1

Cadillac's chief, Graeme Lowdon, has expressed his satisfaction with Ferrari's 'fully legal engine', amid a brewing controversy over the new power units for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The sport is introducing brand new power units and chassis, marking the most radical regulation changes in its history. Ahead of the season, which kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, a dispute has emerged regarding the approaches taken by engine manufacturers to the compression ratio limit imposed by the regulations. Mercedes and Red Bull are believed to have found a way to adhere to the regulations when their power units are stationary, but reach a higher ratio when running. In contrast, Ferrari, along with Audi and Honda, have reportedly not incorporated technology to achieve a higher compression ratio when the car is on track. Cadillac, a new entrant, has partnered with Ferrari for their engine supply, and Lowdon is confident in the legitimacy of their power unit. 'What I'm very confident and happy about is we have a fully legal engine,' Lowdon stated. 'With these engines, combustion is not allowed to take place at a compression ratio above 16 to 1. We know that Ferrari have completely followed the rules where that stands. That gives us a lot of confidence.' Red Bull engine chief Ben Hodgkinson has dismissed suggestions that his team's power unit could be in breach of the rules, describing the dispute as 'just noise'. The controversy has sparked a debate among engine manufacturers, with some teams interpreting the regulations differently. Cadillac's partnership with Ferrari was swiftly agreed upon in December 2024, after the team's parent company, General Motors, agreed to manufacture their own engines, expected to be ready by 2029. Lowdon expressed his pleasure with the arrangement, citing Ferrari's iconic status in Formula 1 and the technical support they provide. The team became the first to run a 2026 Ferrari power unit during a private shakedown at Silverstone, with Ferrari set to follow suit ahead of the first pre-season testing event in Barcelona. The introduction of new regulations has led to a robust schedule of three separate testing events before the start of the 2026 season, with the first taking place in Barcelona from January 26-30.