F1 Approves GM’s Cadillac F1 Team Weeks After Andretti’s Step Back

Source: Xinhua News Agency / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly a month after Michael Andretti stepped down from his leadership role with Andretti Global and nearly a year after his bid to join the Formula One grid as a team owner, Formula One is approving a big by General Motors to join the racing series.

General Motors and Andretti Global have been laying the groundwork for the last two years to become the eleventh team on the F1 grid, but their bid to join the series was rejected in January.

The series, in so many words, said several months ago in their findings of the bid that Andretti’s proposed Cadillac F1 Team would not bring competitiveness or value to the series.

But, on Monday the series changed course, approving the Cadillac F1 proposal “in principle.”

“With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport,” said Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei

Liberty Media is the parent company of Formula One.

“We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1,” he continued. “We are excited to move forward with the application process for the GM/Cadillac team to enter the Championship in 2026.”

Michael Andretti relinquished his ownership stake in Andretti Global in October. It had been the team’s arduous work in the years prior that laid the groundwork for the Cadillac brand to join the series. GM had been adamant from the get-go that if they were to join F1 it would be in a partnership with Andretti.

As of now, Andretti’s involvement with the Cadillac F1 team remains unclear.

“The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti said on X after the announcement. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!”

Dan Towriss is now the man in charge of Andretti Global. he shed a little light as it appears Andretti will be involved in some capacity.

“We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.”

The Cadillac F1 Team will be the second American-based team on the F1 grid along with the Haas F1 Team. Cadillac will eventually supply its own engines (power units), but as those are developed the team has signed a deal to race with Ferreri power units once the team comes on the grid in 2026.