How Cadillac teased its F1 team with glitzy launch event in Miami

Cadillac showcased the beginning of its 2026 Formula 1 journey with an event it dubbed as the “cultural centrepiece of the Miami Grand Prix weekend”.

Queen was transformed into a hub for motorsport and culture, where paddock regulars rubbed shoulders with the who’s who of the Miami nightlife scene. One thing’s for certain: the entire evening felt distinctly American. It’s something that’s been missing from F1 despite the USA’s recent love affair with the championship.

The guest list for the evening clearly reflected the team’s efforts to capture a new audience: there were dozens of British journalists, stunned by the spectacle of it all, in addition to reality TV personalities Joey Graziadei, Kelsey Anderson, Jenn Tran and Ciara Miller. Mick Schumacher also made a surprise pit stop at Queen, while One Tree Hill alum Sophia Bush had prime viewing from her table in the centre of the club. Even a staff member from a rival team was understood to be there, gathering intel. 

One noticeable absence was Sergio Perez, amid rumours that the ex-F1 driver would be announced as part of Cadillac’s new line-up. Fans chanted his name outside and begged the team to hire him, but it quickly became clear this particular event was less about anything substantial and mostly just … vibes. 

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Terry Cruz emerged on stage to introduce Dan Towriss, while telling a story about the role that General Motors and Cadillac played in his life. The Michigan-born actor joked that he wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for GM bringing his family together. 

After the brief executive remarks, guests whispered about what exactly was in store for the evening: perhaps a livery reveal? Not quite. The team played a vague video about the visual identity of Cadillac moving forward, and as it stands, it partially resembles a Pinterest home page.

Nondescript images flashed on screen of women wearing cool Cadillac merch, which was interspersed with equally vague shots of an F1 car. It featured several flashes of orange (watch out McLaren) and generic black and white shots of women clad in fashionable clothing. 

The night ended with Janelle Monae on the DJ decks after she gave a full performance earlier in the evening. Was there any kind of tie-in between the singer-songwriter and Cadillac? Nope! But what could be more American than enlisting celebrities to help dazzle the motorsport community as it prepares for a new era in 2026.