Full Breakdown
3M Joins Cadillac Formula 1 Team as Official Material Science Partner
7/1/2026, 12:48:31 AM
3M Becomes Official Material Science Partner for Cadillac Formula 1 Team
On June 30 2026, 3M and the Cadillac Formula 1® Team announced a multi-year global partnership that names 3M the team’s Official Material Science Partner. The agreement covers lightweight materials, bonding and surface preparation, manufacturing optimization, laboratory testing and real-time trackside assistance.
Background & Context
The Cadillac Formula 1® Team, debuting in the 2026 FIA season, is owned by TWG Motorsports and General Motors and operates from Indianapolis, Charlotte and Silverstone. 3M, listed on the NYSE (MMM), brings more than a century of automotive-industry expertise and a long-standing partnership with GM. Excel Sports Management, the team’s agency of record, facilitated the partnership discussions. Key executives include 3M chairman and CEO William Brown, 3M Transportation and Electronics Group president Wendy Bauer, and Cadillac’s global commercial head Tyler Epp, who oversees partner alignment.
Timeline
- 2026 – Cadillac Formula 1 Team makes its FIA debut.
- June 30 2026 – 3M and Cadillac announce the multi-year material-science partnership.
Data & Statistics
- Partnership described as “multi-year” and “global.”
- 3M contributes over 100 years of automotive-industry experience.
- Cadillac’s operations span three sites: Indianapolis (USA), Charlotte (USA), and Silverstone (UK).
Why It Matters
For 3M, Formula 1 offers a high-speed testbed to validate materials under extreme conditions and accelerate product development that can be scaled to global automotive manufacturers. For Cadillac, the partnership supplies technical expertise to address FIA budget-cap pressures, improve chassis efficiency and reinforce a performance-driven culture as the team builds its brand in the sport.
Official Statements & Responses
3M’s leadership said its science and manufacturing expertise is being applied to solve complex challenges and that the partnership will drive results by advancing speed, efficiency and performance. Cadillac’s commercial strategy team emphasized a cultural alignment, noting that 3M’s performance-focused products match the team’s aim to build a culture of performance. Wendy Bauer highlighted Formula 1 as one of the most demanding material-testing environments, reinforcing the mutual benefit of shared innovation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At 3M, we apply science and manufacturing expertise to help solve complex challenges,” — William Brown, 3M chairman and CEO
- “This partnership demonstrates how our technologies can drive results in a highly demanding environment by advancing speed, efficiency and performance.” — William Brown, 3M chairman and CEO
- “We're proud to welcome 3M to the Cadillac Formula 1® Team,” — Tyler Epp, global head of commercial strategy, Cadillac Formula 1 Team
- “Formula 1® represents one of the most demanding test environments for materials anywhere in the world,” — Wendy Bauer, group president, 3M Transportation and Electronics Business Group
What’s Next
The partnership will deliver material selection, process improvements and real-time trackside support throughout the 2026 season. Cadillac has signaled plans for at least three additional technical partners during the summer, extending its “fewer, bigger, better” sponsorship model. Continued collaboration is expected to generate data that can be applied to future automotive products.
