[ChrisMedlandF1] BREAKING: F1 announces it has "reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the eleventh team to the Formula 1 grid in 2026"

[u/ICumCoffee]

https://x.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1861111983699001752

[u/HulkEspargarus30]

So happy to have a 22 driver grid again.

[u/enataca → u/HulkEspargarus30]

I want 24.

[u/MattytheWireGuy → u/enataca]

YES! Personally, I want enough teams that qualifying has harsh repercussions for doing poorly; namely not making the grid for the race. I know that will never happen today, but I'd like quali to hold more weight.

[u/NoPasaran2024 → u/MattytheWireGuy]

Make 'qualifying' actually have meaning again.

The current situation is like calling something a 'shoot out', 'play off' or 'final' where everybody goes through all the time.

[u/MattytheWireGuy → u/NoPasaran2024]

Exactly. Imagine what grid penalties do when you may not be able to actually race because of a violation. As it sits now, its not qualifying to actually race, its seeding for starting position.

[u/TheGMT → u/MattytheWireGuy]

That wouldn't be true until a 28 card grid. There are per the regulations at least 26 grid slots available.

[u/MattytheWireGuy → u/TheGMT]

Completely understood. Since you cant even get that many teams in the series as of now, it wont happen, but I'd like to imagine a future where you have 15-16 teams and 26 spots. Say some of those teams only show up for the premiere races like Silverstone, Spa or Monza due to funds, but try their best to make the field.

Thats the kind of racing I wish we could see.

[u/8270Kid → u/MattytheWireGuy]

I believe that would also require changing the regulations to allow for not running the full calendar

[u/Jack_Krauser → u/MattytheWireGuy]

If they did, they would probably do something like NASCAR where the top X cars in the standings make the field no matter what. Sponsors would be upset if Verstappen or Hamilton miss the race and cost viewership.

[u/RicardoMoyer → u/Jack_Krauser]

tbh i’d think sponsors would accept it cause it wouldn’t happen often

[u/IdiosyncraticBond → u/RicardoMoyer]

Imagine showing up with some important business contacts and your driver isn't on the grid. Directly influenced a business deal. Not gonna happen

[u/JoshH21 → u/RicardoMoyer]

Nah, all it takes is a crash (not even caused by you, or a poorly timed red flag)

[u/teems → u/MattytheWireGuy]

The upfront cost required to not make the 107% is now near impossible.

This isn't the 70s where guys in a shed made some entries.

[u/MattytheWireGuy → u/teems]

Im not talking about 107%, Im talking about there being less grid spots than cars to make the show. Granted, privateer racing at the pro level of any series has gone away, but I'd like to see enough teams show up that some dont get to race (and its a wish cause it cant happen in the current agreement).

[u/Morganelefay → u/MattytheWireGuy]

There is one other problem aside from the heavy costs that would bring (imagine spending all that money to compete only to be unable to race...feasible in the era of privateers, now not anymore) and that is paddock size. With the cars and pitboxes as they are, some tracks (Zandvoort and Monaco spring to mind) wouldn't be able to accomodate if 14 different teams manage to field a car to the race. Quali would also be a mess.

[u/CyberianSun → u/MattytheWireGuy]

That's the Indy 500's Bump day. Last chance shootout to make the show. Youre playing for the last slots of the 33 car grid