Cadillac’s First F1 Chassis Is Named for Mario Andretti

Cadillac has christened its inaugural Formula 1 car MAC-26 in tribute to mario andretti, putting the Andretti name on the team’s first chassis ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

MAC-26 stands for Mario Andretti Cadillac

The team says the "MA" in "MAC-26" is a reference to early team advisor and 1978 Formula 1 champion mario andretti, with the full acronym rendered as "Mario Andretti Cadillac. " That naming decision cements a visible link between the new program and the Andretti family’s long-running efforts to reach F1.

Mario Andretti honored on the car

Andretti, who is an ambassador for the program, welcomed the tribute. "Racing has been the joy of my life, " said Andretti. "It is the ultimate compliment that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honor. I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting bond with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history. "

Drivers to put MAC-26 on track in Melbourne

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will turn the first official laps in an MAC-26 in practice for the Australian Grand Prix, a key initial duty that will give the team its first running data with the race car. Cadillac’s team principal said he hopes the car bearing Andretti’s name will make the family proud, calling Mario Andretti "a legend of Formula 1" and praising his influence on the program.

The program evolved from earlier bids to enter F1 and now arrives on the grid as a GM-run effort built to grow over time; the team is not expected to contend for wins in its first year but will use the debut weekend in Melbourne to begin its development path.

The next confirmed event for the team is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where MAC-26 will make its competitive debut in official practice and then on the race weekend schedule.