Jay Leno Just Put A Cadillac F1 Car In His Garage

Jay Leno has seen just about everything roll into his garage over the years, but this one feels different. Not because it’s rare, although it absolutely is, but because seeing a Cadillac Formula 1 car still feels a little surreal.

Leno recently welcomed GM President Mark Reuss along with Cadillac’s new F1 machine, which is probably the most expensive Cadillac sitting in that garage. Modern Formula 1 cars can cost tens of millions of dollars, and this one represents something GM has never really attempted at this level before.

One of the first questions was obvious. Why Cadillac and not Corvette? GM already races the Corvette in major series like WEC with the Z06 GT3.R, so on paper it would’ve made sense. But Reuss explained that Cadillac is going through a major transformation as a brand, and Formula 1 fits the image they want to build around technology and innovation.

At the same time, Cadillac is entering F1 during one of the sport’s biggest technical shifts, with 2026 regulations pushing further into electrification.

For now, Cadillac is still using Ferrari power units while GM works on developing its own engine. That won’t be easy. F1 is a completely different world compared to road cars or even endurance racing, especially when you’re competing against teams like Ferrari and McLaren that have decades of experience.

Reuss also hinted that some details around aerodynamics and engineering stayed private for obvious reasons. In Formula 1, even small information leaks can matter.

The team currently runs Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, two experienced drivers who can help a new operation develop properly, even if results haven’t arrived yet. Through the first four races of 2026, Cadillac still hasn’t scored a point.

But honestly, nobody expected instant success. For a lot of American fans, just seeing Cadillac on the F1 grid already feels like a big moment. Even Jay Leno admitted he felt proud watching an American team line up against the rest of the world.