A New Whiskey Team Joins Formula 1: Who Will Get Behind the Wheel with Cadillac?

Saturday, 20 September 2025 at 15:02Jim Beam

The debut of a brand-new team is set to rock the Formula 1 2026. Next year, Cadillac will join the race track with Perez and Bottas as their drivers, but that's not all: they're also bringing a well-known name on board. Jim Beam is a major sponsor and will join the race.

FAQ

What has been announced exactly?
Jim Beam is to become the Official Spirits Partner of the Cadillac F1 Team.

When will Cadillac debut in F1?
In 2026, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez behind the wheel.

Why are Cadillac and Jim Beam partnering?
The brands share a 90-year history, making this collaboration a natural progression, according to Jim Beam.

Jim Beam and Cadillac – One Team Off The Starting Grid

The Cadillac F1 team sports a substantial sponsor on their race car and on the racing suits of Bottas and Pérez. Their logo will shine bright on the Jim Beam brand from race one in 2026.

The partnership was announced with a slick trailer. Watch the YouTube video below:

An American Alliance Rich in History

Rashidi Hodari, managing director at Suntory Global Spirits (James B. Beam Distilling Co.) mentions that it's not merely a sticker on the Formula 1 race car.

‘We're bringing the soul of Kentucky to the global stage of Formula 1 – along with a brand that has always been part of our family's history.'

- Rashidi Hodari

Jim Beam and Cadillac have intertwined their histories for nearly a century. Founder James B. Beam used his Cadillac to protect the heart of his bourbon – the yeast. Today, master distiller Fred Noe still drives a Cadillac, in homage.

Not Just Bourbon in the Pit Lane

Jim Beam steps onto the Formula 1 scene with Cadillac, after closing sponsor deals with the Chiefs and Cowboys in the NFL and in the Indy 500. If there will be any other Jim Beam activations around the sporting events, is not clear yet.