Mario Andretti Will Serve On Board Of GM’s Cadillac F1 Team
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INDIANAPOLIS — Mario Andretti will be serving on the board of the brand new Formula One team that will be fielded by General Motors with its Cadillac brand.
The team was given full approval by Formula One to join the grid in 2026 this week after a long process that was filled with politics, personal animosity, and drama. The approval came just weeks after Mario’s son, Michael Andretti, made the decision to step aside from his leadership of Andretti Global.
Andretti Global laid pretty much all of the groundwork for the deal to become reality.
The Andretti name will not be on the new ‘Cadillac F1 team’ when it becomes the 11th team to field two cars on the F1 starting grid, but it will have influence from the Andretti camp as racing legend, 1978 F1 world champion, and 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti will serve on the team’s board of directors.
“I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to stick around for this long and do what I love for so long,” Andretti said on X. “And the idea that the Cadillac F1 Team wants me around….I’ll help where I can, a non-executive role with the team, not involved in day-to-day operations (because I don’t want a job), but offering advice, inspiration, friendship anywhere I can. I am beyond fortunate.”
The team’s bid for Formula One regained steam after Michael Andretti’s decision to step back, with Dan Towriss taking up the top leadership role with Andretti Global. Towriss is the CEO of the parent company of Gainbridge, which has been an ardent backer of the Andretti brand the last several years.
The inclusion of Mario Andretti in the leadership of the team, however limited it may be, will no doubt spark rumors of who will be among the drivers for the team. One of the drivers expected to be considered is current Andretti Global IndyCar driver Colton Herta.
Herta has long been talked about as a contender to take a Formula One ride should Andretti ever get to the F1 paddock.
Cadillac F1 was also quickly reconsidered as General Motors reworked a few commitments to be able to provide the series with a new engine constructor within the decade. When the team begins competition in 2026 it will race under Ferrari power units, but will eventually develop and race with their own Cadillac-branded engines by 2028 when the current Concorde Agreement expires.
