Cadillac F1 Names Debut Chassis MAC26 After Andretti

Cadillac Formula 1 Team has named its debut chassis MAC26, a tribute to 1978 world champion Mario Andretti, as the American squad prepares for its inaugural race at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix next weekend.

The announcement, made Friday from the team's base in Silverstone, England, designates the car as the Mario Andretti Cadillac 2026. Andretti, one of only two American drivers to claim the Formula 1 title, serves as an ambassador and board director for the General Motors-backed outfit. The naming reflects the team's aspirations for an enduring U.S. presence in the sport.

"Naming our first chassis MAC26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula 1 and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage," said Dan Towriss, chief executive of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings. "His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day."

Andretti, who turns 86 on Sunday, expressed deep gratitude for the honor. "Racing has been the joy of my life," he said in a statement. "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...