Formula 1 announced Monday that it had signed an agreement in principle with General Motors to support the addition of an 11th team to the grid from 2026.
The approval ends years of wrangling that sparked a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Liberty Media, the company that owns F1’s commercial rights.
The team will be named Cadillac F1 and will be led by Andretti Global owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The new team will be powered by Ferrari until GM designs its own powertrain for the 2028 season.
“As the premier category of motorsport, F1 demands innovation and excellence by pushing the limits. “It is an honor for GM and Cadillac to join the world’s greatest racing series, and we are committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport to racing fans around the world,” said GM Chairman , Mark Reuss.
The decision to include an 11th team is a turnaround for F1. It had initially rejected the application of the group set up by Michael Andretti – who has since left the management of Andretti Global – despite the approval of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
“We are excited to partner with GM to bring a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” Towriss said in a statement. Together, we are assembling a first-class team that will reflect American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to racing fans around the world. »
Mario Andretti, world champion in 1978, will be an ambassador for the team. His son Michael will not be involved in the organization.
New teams are rare and often unsuccessful in F1. Four teams were approved in 2010 and were expected to bring the total to 13 teams and 26 cars, but one never saw the light of day and the other three no longer existed by 2017.
There is currently only one other American team in F1 and that is Haas, owned by California businessman Gene Haas. It is not particularly competitive and does not employ an American pilot. Andretti’s dream was to put a truly American team on the track with American drivers.
“GM is a major global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and works with impressive partners,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. I fully support the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this request. »
