Cadillac’s first F1 colors land — and they’re mostly not colors at all.
General Motors president Mark Reuss lifted the covers at GM’s Detroit HQ on Tuesday to reveal Cadillac’s inaugural Formula 1 testing livery: a clean, monochrome camo designed to look sharp and give nothing away. The car will run in that scheme at the closed-doors pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26–30, ahead of a full livery reveal on February 8.
Think stealth, with swagger. The giant Cadillac crest is draped across the rear of the car, doubling as a clever smokescreen for the aero surfaces. A vertical geometric motif runs in alternating gloss and matte to further blur the bodywork’s finer lines — the motorsport version of manufacturer camouflage you see on prototype road cars, just trimmed for F1 speed.
The intent is obvious: make a statement without handing rivals a free look. It’s brand theater with a purpose, and Cadillac hasn’t skimped on the details. The team says the graphic language riffs on a modern take of the crest and shield, a visual anchor that ties the whole car together while obscuring the shapes that matter. Look closer and you’ll find the names of the project’s founding members — from both sides of the Atlantic — embedded in the design.
Barcelona’s a fitting place for a first run. The circuit’s long, loaded corners and mix of speeds always expose a car’s balance, and teams love it for exactly that reason. In a private test, the cameras are fewer, the laps are precious, and the stopwatch gets more attention than the photographers. A stealthy livery suits the mood.
As for the final race look, that waits until February 8. Expect a more production-ready identity once the studio shots drop, but don’t be surprised if Cadillac keeps some of the visual trickery in play. It’s 2025; everyone guards secrets, and camo can be as useful as it is photogenic.
What this launch really signals, though, is cadence. First the test scheme, then the car in full trim, and then the hard miles. It’s one thing to announce intentions in Formula 1; it’s another to roll a car out, however monochrome, and point it at a proper circuit.
For now, the message is clear enough. Cadillac’s entering F1 with a cool head and a sharp suit, and Barcelona’s about to get its first glimpse.
