The Ford-General Motors rivalry has taken a new turn — right onto a Formula 1 racetrack. The American auto giants are newly invested in the sport: GM through the new Cadillac F1 team and Ford via its new engine partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing. And the competition, which begins this weekend with F1’s first 2026 race in Australia, is as much about winning over regular car buyers as excelling on the high-speed circuit.