Andretti Autosport could be bringing General Motors to Formula 1.
Andretti Global and General Motors have announced that Cadillac will join its previously-announced Formula 1 bid. It is the latest development in the Andretti Global proposal, which was announced in February of 2022.
The team announced the development in a statement:
Today Andretti Global and General Motors, two American powerhouses in the automotive and motorsport sectors, have announced their intent to pursue the opportunity to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship. GM would be represented by the Cadillac brand. The Andretti Cadillac team would be based in the U.S. with a support facility in the U.K
While the team is still not officially any closer to joining the Formula 1 grid, the announcement comes just a few days after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced plans to officially explore expansion of the F1 grid. Previously, competitors within the existing ten-team Formula 1 grid have suggested that any further entry from Andretti would require him to bring new value to the series. By bringing General Motors into the category, Andretti would seemingly accomplish just that.
Previous rumors had linked Andretti Global’s bid to an engine deal with Alpine, a group that has notably been one of Andretti’s few public supporters in the team’s push for a spot on the grid. With the addition of Cadillac as a partner, those plans have seemingly been pushed aside for something significantly more ambitious.
“We are continuing to grow Andretti Global and its family of racing teams and always have our eyes on what’s next. I feel that we are well suited to be a new team for Formula One and can bring value to the series and our partners, and excitement for the fans. I’m proud to have GM and Cadillac alongside us as we pursue this goal. GM and Andretti share a legacy born out of the love of racing. We now have the opportunity to combine our motorsport passions and dedication to innovation to build a true American F1 bid. Together, we will continue to follow procedures and steps put forth by the FIA during the evaluation process. In the meantime, we continue to optimistically prepare should we be fortunate enough to have Andretti Cadillac formally approved as a Formula One contender.”
- Michael Andretti, Chairman and CEO, Andretti Global
Andretti Global’s early plans also included hopes for an American driver, like current Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver Colton Herta. While Herta was rejected from the Formula 1 grid for licensing reasons shortly after reportedly agreeing to a contingent deal with the Red Bull-backed AlphaTauri program, the Andretti program could either seek out another American driver or spend the next year ensuring Herta gets the necessary super license points to further bolster the strength of its proposed entry.