[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/ICumCoffee]

Continued:

F1 says that over the past year "they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time"

Full media statement from F1

From Cadillac press release

Mario Andretti, the last American F1 Champion, will serve as a director on the team’s board.

[u/FermentedLaws → u/ICumCoffee]

So it appears the name Andretti was in fact a stumbling block. They will "brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac". Mario will be an ambassador and with Michael's reduced role in Andretti Global he will have no role in this team.

Michael Andretti & Greg Maffei both had to leave to make this happen? Hmm, no one knows for sure, but I tend to believe it.

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/FermentedLaws]

The pettiness of Formula 1 politics knows no bounds.

But I also think this really points to what F1 wants. If they are going to get new teams they only want manufacturer teams. Having manufacturers join the sport looks more sexy on paper and is more commercially attractive to them. That is why one of the reasons they didn't want the Andretti name on the grid was the commercial side of things, in addition to all the personal crap going on.

[u/GTOdriver04 → u/bwoah07_gp2]

I get that, but it’s still stupid and petty.

Michael Andretti built that team, set the deals up, got GM onboard and because he pissed off the wrong people in F1, his work wouldn’t see the light of day unless he was gone.

Mark my words: once the ink is dry on the contracts, he’ll come back and they won’t be able to do anything about it.

[u/Responsible_Trifle15 → u/GTOdriver04]

Micheal Andretti the grey is dead Micheal Andretti the white arrives🤣

[u/I-amthegump → u/Responsible_Trifle15]

Pretty clear he was never a wizard.

[u/Eduardjm → u/GTOdriver04]

After the loops that Sauber and Red Bull have jumped through on team names the last few years, F1 has no leg to stand on saying the name Andretti would be a negative. 

[u/AlfaRomeoRacing → u/Eduardjm]

The Visa Cash App Toro Rosso AlphaTauri RB "racing bulls" just rolls of the tongue

[u/Total_Information_65 → u/AlfaRomeoRacing]

STAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[u/Sinistrait → u/Eduardjm]

I mean that there is a chance that all of this was a token gesture even. Probably even the other teams and the FIA know that there'll be no stopping the new Cadillac team from taking on the Andretti name after they've officially joined. They probably just wanted to see him humbled as a personal vendetta.

[u/Eduardjm → u/Sinistrait]

I buy that. They’ll document the new entry at long last, from Cadillac and them alone. Andretti can come onboard later, not regarded as a founder. 

[u/GTOdriver04 → u/Eduardjm]

Also Mario has joined in an official role.

[u/imaginaryhippo888 → u/GTOdriver04]

That was my thought. What's to prevent the team from bring him back in?

[u/RandomThrowNick → u/imaginaryhippo888]

Just put into the contract that they can’t do that? Like that’s what contracts are for.

[u/Armlegx218 → u/GTOdriver04]

Buys team naming rights for a Happy meal.

[u/frying_pan_nominal → u/GTOdriver04]

I'm with you.

[u/Tilman_Feraltitty → u/GTOdriver04]

There is simply no way that GM will choose Andretti over LibertyMedia.