As recently as January 5, 2023, Michael Andretti announced plans to enter Formula 1 with General Motors in the form of Cadillac as a builder. Although there has been no public reaction from the ten teams currently present in Formula 1, a slight discontent has been perceived which has filtered into the general silence.
In this sense, the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, let himself go on social networks to half vent, in which we read: “It is surprising that there have been negative reactions to the news of Cadillac and Andretti. In recent years, the FIA has also accepted the entry of smaller teams and in any case a source of success. We should encourage possible new entrants to Formula 1, both global manufacturers like General Motors and famous teams like Andretti, and others. The teams' interest in growing markets adds diversity to the sport, and increases the interest of Formula 1.”
Wolff strong opponent of Andretti
Who was the FIA president referring to in his message? It is not known for sure, but one of the strongest voices against the entry of an eleventh team in the Circus was that of Toto wolff, according to which Andretti's entry would have only diluted the sport and revenues without a valid return. It is obviously not certain that Ben Sulayem's attack is aimed at the Mercedes boss, but the possibilities are strong enough. What has been leaked by the FIA, however, indicates 2026 as the first year in which a new team will be able to take part in the Formula 1 championship. The Austrian himself had spoken of the need to attract new constructors, and the former American driver managed also filling that box with the eighth-largest automaker in the world (Volkswagen is first, Toyota second, Stellantis third, Mercedes fourth, Ford fifth, Honda seventh, Renault only eighteenth).
Speaking of engines, who's going to build those Cadillacs?
Speaking of engines, it is known with almost absolute certainty that General Motors will not produce an engine for use in Formula 1, given that it has not registered in time for the list of engineers for 2026 (for which Ferrari also did not participate in the last meeting). The American builder's plan would be to collaborate with another builder, at least in the first period. GM President, Mark Reuss, had revealed that he already had a contract signed with a manufacturer for the start of the new team in Formula 1. The most logical choice would be to use the engines Honda, which has already been shown to be available at rebadges of its engines by Red Bull Powertrains – with Red Bull itself appearing to want to convince Ford to enter Formula 1 from 2026 with its own brand placed on Honda engines.
Reuss, on the rumor of the GM-Honda agreement, had replied as follows: “In the electrical sector we have a great partnership with Honda. At the same time, with the Chevrolet brand we are fighting against Honda in IndyCar. We therefore have a collaborative and challenging relationship, which does not create any problems. As for the engine, more on that later. We have wanted to enter Formula 1 for a long time, but for various reasons it has always been very difficult – for economic reasons, for leadership, or for the world economic situation.” Andretti himself revealed that he has already launched a signing campaign for the engineering department, with the technical director already under contract and to be announced later.
We'll see how the entry of new teams into Formula 1 will evolve, but one thing is certain: the off season has never been so heated.
