Michael Andretti’s Andretti Global and General Motors kick-started 2023 by announcing their proposed collaborative effort to enter a Formula 1 team under the luxury Cadillac brand.
Autoweek dissects the news, and takes a look at the next steps.
Andretti Continues His F1 Pursuit
Andretti’s eponymous outfit emerged in Formula 1 parlance mid-2021 amid the company’s proposed takeover of Sauber Motorsport and its Formula 1 team, currently competing as Alfa Romeo Racing. Negotiations were at an advanced stage but ultimately collapsed over control issues, with owner Finn Rausing reluctant to relinquish full control of Sauber.
Andretti reacted a few months later by revealing plans to form his own team to enter Formula 1 from the 2024 season. The reaction from existing stakeholders was lukewarm, amid the increasing shift towards teams being regarded as franchises, in conjunction with the evolution of Formula 1’s financial structure.
Formula 1 was keen to entice OEMs when finalizing the framework for the 2026 engine regulations and attracted Audi, which will become Sauber’s strategic partner and power unit provider. Porsche held lengthy discussions with Red Bull Racing but these broke down due to Red Bull’s reluctance to relinquish significant control of the team. Porsche remains interested in 2026 and beyond while it is understood other manufacturers have notified Formula 1 behind-the-scenes that the championship is an increasingly attractive proposition.
Thursday’s announcement of Andretti’s partnership with General Motors, through its Cadillac brand, is a boon for the ex-racer, who competed for McLaren in the 1993 season.
“One of the big things was ‘well what does Andretti bring to the party’,” said Andretti, of the lukewarm reaction in 2022. “Well we’re bringing one of the biggest manufacturers in the world with us in GM and Cadillac, so that was the one box we didn’t have checked which we do have checked now, and will bring a tremendous amount of support to Formula 1, and it’s hard for anyone to argue with that now.”
Mark Reuss is ready to lead GM into Formula 1.
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Why Is GM Interested?
GM has never before competed in Formula 1 though it has a presence in motorsport, most notably as an engine supplier in IndyCar, through Chevrolet. It is also expanding this year with the commitment of Cadillac to the new hypercar regulations in the World Endurance Championship, which includes Le Mans.
GM President Mark Reuss revealed that it was Andretti who first made the approach in 2022 and the company was sufficiently interested to develop the discussions at this stage.
“At some point GM, along the history in my career, would have loved to have gotten into F1,” said Reuss. “But for various reasons it was pretty tough to do that, whether it was the leadership, or the amount of money [needed] at that time, or where the company was, where the economy was. Whatever the reasons were, were different, and I would say this opportunity, and Michael, what was just really important to us. I would say we weren’t necessarily searching to do it but Michael kicked it off and I was personally really over the moon, so it was great, and it just evolved in a really positive way.”
Andretti already has a working relationship with Honda in the NTT IndyCar Series.
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What About an Engine Deal?
This is an element which currently remains unconfirmed—although Andretti-Cadillac has a signed agreement somewhere.
GM will not be producing its own power unit for the new 2026 regulations, with the intention to rebadge a current engine, although the door is open for its own in-house production further down the line.
Last year Andretti held discussions with Renault over a supply deal. It is the only present engine manufacturer without a customer team and was one of the few current teams that voiced its support to Andretti’s presence.
However, Honda is also a strong contender.
GM and Honda are both allies and opponents; the parties last year expanded its relationship by collaborating on EVs, expected to go on sale from 2027, while in IndyCar they are competing engine suppliers.
Honda has retained a presence in Formula 1 in spite of its official exit after 2021, keeping branding and visibility with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri. Honda is interested in Formula 1’s 2026 engine regulations, and recently registered that officially with the FIA, but may not necessarily continue its current relationship with Red Bull. Honda also has history of being willing to allow other companies to re-badge its products.
What About the Team Itself?
The Andretti-Cadillac team would have its headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, where construction began in December on an expanded campus. The 575,000-square-foot facility is due to be completed for use in 2025.
Colton Herta is an early favorite to drive for an Andretti F1 entry.
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Andretti will also have a satellite factory in the United Kingdom—where seven of the current 10 teams are located—while the proposed team would also benefit from GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, and potentially from the company’s new Technical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Andretti emphasized that “the capabilities that GM have is on the level with any F1 team out there,” and outlined that his own facility will be “one of the most advanced racing facilities in the world when completed.”
Andretti has already “hired the main engineers” and is “very much down the road” on the structure of its technical team. He revealed that a technical director has been recruited and an announcement will follow in due course.
Unlike Haas, who has never fielded an American racer, Andretti-Cadillac plans to run at least one American driver.
“I think you know who is leading the pack on that one, with Colton (Herta). We do have him under contract in IndyCar,” said Andretti.
Herta was previously earmarked by Andretti when it was in talks with Sauber in 2021 while last year AlphaTauri attempted to recruit the youngster for 2023 but were threatened by the FIA’s Super License regulations. He would still need to reach the threshold but that is a talking point for further down the line.
Will Formula 1, and Other Teams, Support the New Alignment?
Alpine has been so far supportive, as has McLaren, because of CEO Zak Brown’s association and partnership elsewhere with Michael Andretti.
But Formula 1 and the other teams have been so far lukewarm or downright negative about Andretti.
That is due to the structure of the championship and the concern existing teams have that splitting prize money between 11 rather than 10 means the share is reduced. That is why a $200-million anti-dilution fee, to be paid by the new entrant and split between existing teams, was introduced.
However, as Formula 1’s popularity has grown, and its revenues and prize fund consequently increased, the anti-dilution fee would have a lesser impact. Team value has risen and, in conjunction with the cost cap, they can turn a profit. Hence Andretti’s value has been questioned, in spite of its success in other motorsport categories, and the obvious weight of the family name. Bringing a major manufacturer in GM/Cadillac to the table could favorably change the picture and is a huge riposte to some critics.
Andretti has racing pedigree, has gone out and found a major marque previously untapped by Formula 1, and has for the first time revealed plans in an official manner, as opposed to in dribs and drabs as before.
Formula 1’s statement did not brim with unbridled enthusiasm toward the Andretti-Cadillac tie-up.
“There is great interest in the F1 project at this time with a number of conversations continuing that are not as visible as others,” said Formula 1. “We all want to ensure the championship remains credible and stable and any new entrant request will be assessed on criteria to meet those objectives by all the relevant stakeholders. Any new entrant request requires the agreement of both F1 and the FIA.”
Formula 1 has not had a new team since Haas, in 2016, which came a year before Liberty Media’s takeover of the commercial rights and a restructuring of the Concorde Agreement—the document which binds together the teams, Formula 1 and the FIA.
Before then, three privateer teams which joined in 2010 under different circumstances all struggled for competitiveness, accentuated by financial weaknesses, and have since collapsed.
What, and When, Are the Next Steps?
The Andretti-Cadillac announcement comes just three days after FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem publicly instructed his governing body to evaluate an Expressions of Interest process.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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It is understood that the intention of the FIA is to see how many prospective entrants are actually out there, and are credible, and thus can be assessed on what they can bring to the table. The FIA was more receptive to the Andretti-Cadillac development than Formula 1.
“Today’s news is further proof of the popularity and growth of the FIA Formula One World Championship under the FIA’s stewardship,” said Ben Sulayem.
“It is particularly pleasing to have interest from two iconic brands such as General Motors Cadillac and Andretti Global.”
Ben Sulayem outlined that the Expressions of Interest process “will follow strict FIA protocol and will take several months.”
Andretti said on Thursday that “we are going to be on track as soon as it all makes sense to be on track,” though it is understood that there is no prospect of any new team joining Formula 1 before 2026. This is due to the timeframes involved in terms of both the entry process and then in building up a competitive team.
The regulations allow for a maximum of 13 teams, although even if a selection process eventually gets under way there is no cast-iron guarantee that a new team will be approved. Any new entrant would need to be approved by both the FIA and then Formula 1 itself.
Andretti is nonetheless confident that his plans, bolstered by the collaboration with GM, means he will be approved.
“I 1,000% believe it,” said Andretti on his chances. “I believe that we check every box that needs to be checked to be able to enter Formula 1. I feel like we’re definitely ahead of our competition to get there. I feel very, very confident that we’ll be on the grid soon.”
