Toto Wolff is adamant: if General Motors (GM) and its Cadillac team can add value to F1, it is obvious that the starting grid will be expanded to 11 teams.
The Mercedes team principal had strongly criticized the project in its original form, centered on Andretti.
In line with the Austrian's concerns, and despite the FIA giving him the green light, Formula 1 management (FOM) rejected the offer at the start of 2024. However, the restructured approach – which put the Andretti part of the operation in the background – has since received provisional approval from F1 to join the grid in 2026.
So what does the word provisional contain? Wolff acknowledged the potential benefits of General Motors' entry into Formula One through Cadillac, but stressed the need to protect the interests of current teams. Discussions therefore continue on this subject.
“I've always said that if a team is accretive, meaning it adds value, absolutely – because it's a no-brainer. You're a stakeholder, we're a team , we love it when revenues go up, we love when audiences go up. If someone comes along and says 'I can do that' then welcome, with open arms.”
“But I've never heard anyone say that to me. I've never had anyone from GM pitch – which isn't necessary – because teams have no say in that process.”
“It's the FIA and the commercial rights holder who have to decide, but if you want to go to a party and you're not invited, at least make the case for why you should sit at the table.”
“None of this had happened before (with Andretti), and it was probably a bad position from the start.”
“Now GM, coming in as a shareholder with its own engine, is accretive, that's for sure. But to what extent, we don't know.”
“We need to see if what was said about the structure of the deal, the anti-dilution payment, the eligibility to participate in the rewards fund, when that actually happens, and as it stands, I cannot I can't judge correctly because what I heard isn't great.”
“I think the current teams deserve respect for what they have done over the last few years, God knows how difficult it was for most of them to survive already.”
