With the Las Vegas race weekend in full swing, a new rumor has emerged (and not about yet another firing of Sergio Pérez by Red Bull, I promise). An 11th team could finally join the grid in 2026.
According to information from RacingNews365 and Formula.hu, an agreement has been reached to welcome a new team to Formula 1, and an official announcement is expected soon. This project, led by Andretti and supported by General Motors, would mark the arrival of a new team on the grid. However, the final name of this team remains to be specified.
Andretti was the only application validated by the FIA during its selection process, but his initial request to join F1 in 2026 was rejected by FOM (Formula One Management). The disagreement included the necessary transition period: Andretti should have raced as a customer team for two seasons before becoming a factory team under the Cadillac emblem, from 2028.
Asked by the media about this rumor and his vision of things, Toto Wolff responded rather directly:
“I think if a team can contribute to the championship, especially if GM [General Motors] decides to become a team owner, that’s another story.”
“And as long as it's creative, meaning we increase the popularity of the sport, we increase the revenue of the sport, then no team is going to object to it. So I put all my hope in that”, declared the boss of the Mercedes team.
“We can have an opinion, like the one I have here right now – if I want to be invited to a party and I go, I sit on the table and I say who I am and why I am really fun and sitting here and [que] everyone will appreciate my presence.”
“I obviously spoke to Mario [Andretti] – once. I haven't spoken to his son. I haven't spoken to the other people who are behind this. I don't know who they are. So I know GM. GM is great”, concluded the Austrian.
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The choice does not belong to the team directors
Frédéric Vasseur, director of Scuderia Ferrari, went in the same direction as Toto Wolff, recalling that the decision to add a new team in F1 does not rest with the teams themselves. He also joined the Austrian in expressing his opinion on the qualities necessary to justify the arrival of an additional team on the grid.
“Ultimately, I'm not sure we have any say in the discussion”declared the Frenchman. “The discussion is between the FIA, the team and the FOM. It’s not our choice.”
“Certainly, as Toto said, if it's good for sport, good for entertainment, good for business, and it adds value on a sporting level, we're all in agreement. But once again, the decision belongs to the FOM and not to Toto or myself”, concluded the director of the Italian firm.
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