Andretti joins forces with General Motors for Cadillac Formula 1 entry bid

Andretti is teaming up with General Motors for a Formula 1 bid that will see the Cadillac name join the box; The new team needs F1 and FIA approval and cannot be implemented until 2026; Team owner Michael Andretti believes in “real American deal”

Andretti has partnered with General Motors in a bid to enter Formula 1 which, if successful, will also see the famous Cadillac name join the grid.

Team owner Michael Andretti has lobbied the FIA, F1’s governing body, to expand the 20-car grid and push ahead with plans despite a failed 2021 bid to buy Sauber, and resistance from F1 teams who say an 11th team would dilute profits.

Now, after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem opened the door for a new team to join the grid, a collaboration between one of America’s most successful racing teams and the biggest car company has been announced.

Andretti’s main headquarters will be in Indiana while General Motors will be the engine and factory partner, with the GM Cadillac brand to form part of the entry. The team will be known as Andretti Cadillac Racing.

Sky Sports News understand that there will be no opportunity for a new entry before 2026, when there are other parties interested in exploring F1 apart from Andretti.

Any new entrant request requires approval from F1 and the FIA.

“Today’s news from the United States is further proof of the popularity and growth of the FIA ​​Formula One World Championship under the stewardship of the FIA,” said Ben Sulayemn after Andretti’s announcement.

“It’s exciting to have interest from two great brands such as General Motors Cadillac and Andretti Global.

“Any additional entries will be based on positive acceptance of the FIA’s PU 2026 regulations among OEMs that have already secured entries from Audi.

“Any Expression of Interest process will follow strict FIA protocols and will take several months.”

Is Andretti now ‘brought to the F1 party’

Andretti said in the announcement, the culmination of four months of negotiations with General Motors, that the American car gives Andretti’s effort with additional value to the rival team has supported the new team must bring to F1.

“One of the big things is ‘what does Andretti bring to the party?'” Andretti said. “Yes, now we bring one of the biggest manufacturers in the world with General Motors and Cadillac.

“We felt that this was a box that had not been checked and now it is checked. I think it will give a lot of support to Formula 1 and it will be difficult for anyone to argue with that.”

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Former racing driver Mario Andretti, 82, took to the Circuit of the Americas alongside McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

F1 immediately responded with the same tone it has used since Andretti began pushing for expansion by noting that there are several parties interested in the series and Andretti is only the most visible. Andretti’s father, Mario Andretti, was the 1978 Formula One world champion.

“There is a huge interest in the F1 project at the moment with some ongoing conversations that don’t seem like anything else,” F1 said in a statement.

“We all want to ensure that the championship remains reliable and stable and that requests for new participants will be assessed against the criteria to achieve these goals by the relevant stakeholders.”

Andretti said that despite F1’s statement, he still believes that Andretti Global is the strongest applicant. He admits F1 has not shown any other parties interested in him.

“We have the opportunity to combine our motorsport passions [with GM] and dedication to innovation to build a true American F1 offer,” added Andretti.

“At the same time, we will continue to follow the procedures and measures taken by the FIA ​​during the evaluation process. In the meantime, we continue to prepare with the optimism that we will be lucky enough to have Andretti Cadillac officially approved as a Formula 1 competitor.”