Andretti is set to work together with manufacturer General Motors to put together a Formula 1 bid for Cadillac to join the grid in 2026.
Andretti’s new team would require F1 and FIA agreement and would not be possible until 2026 – but team owner Michael Andretti is confident in a “true American bid”
The True American Bid
Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti has been pushing for F1’s governing body to expand the 20-car grid, has moved forward with his plans to put forward an entry – even after a failed attempt to purchase Sauber in 2021 and resistance from F1 teams who have argued that an 11th team would see their revenue diluted. To ease this, F1 introduced a rule requiring new teams to pay a $200 million “anti-dilution” charge on entering in 2021.
Now, following FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem opening the door for new teams to join the grid, a partnership between two American automotive giants has been announced.
Andretti’s main headquarters would be located in Indiana, General Motors would be their engine and manufacturing partner, with General Motors brand Cadillac making up part of the entry. The team would be known as Andretti Cadillac Racing.
Sky Sports News has reported that there would be no chance of a new entry before 2026, and there are other interested parties exploring F1 aside from Andretti.
Ben Sulayem spoke of his enthusiasm;
“Today’s news from the United States is further proof of the popularity and growth of the FIA Formula One World Championship under the FIA’s stewardship. It is particularly pleasing to have interest from two iconic brands such as General Motors Cadillac and Andretti Global.
“Any additional entries would build on the positive acceptance of the FIA’s 2026 PU regulations among OEMs which have already attracted an entry from Audi.”
FORMULA 1 STILL HESITANT
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, however, has spoken as recently as November on the other side of the fence, hesitant to expand the grid;
“With regard to the process related to the possibility of an F1 team to be [entered] into the championship, of course there is the primary that both us and the FIA have to be in agreement for that“.
“I think the first thing that we need to consider is that this eventual possibility will bring an extra value to the championship. If so, of course we are going to discuss it internally and we’ll see if there’s any kind of a real potential new entry [which] can give the benefit for the value of the championship”.
“On top of it, there is a value that has to be recognised for the teams that are already into the championship because of course they cannot allow any dilution of their financial partnership with the F1 championship. So this is what is written in the Concorde Agreement“.
“But mainly the point is does eventually a new entry bring a better positional F1 championship? This is really about value, and in terms of value from the financial point of view and in terms of value from the sporting point of view and if I may on that it’s not a problem to do I think one more team to have a better racing”.
“Therefore we will see, we will monitor the situation. If there will be a real credible new entry team that want to discuss with us, we are ready to discuss, but we are not in a rush position today for that.”