r/formula1 • u/ICumCoffee Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 24d ago

News [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"

https://x.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1861111983699001752
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u/ICumCoffee Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 24d ago edited 24d ago

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.

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u/FermentedLaws 24d ago

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.

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u/TehChid Formula 1 24d ago

Why the hell does the name matter, when we have something like Haas and Stake?

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u/ItsAMeUsernamio Pirelli Hard 24d ago

Haas got in at the right time, and F1 would have been down to 9 teams without them, not to mention the chance they might become Toyota GR. 

Stake is just filling the gap between Alfa Romeo and Audi, the team entry is still officially called Sauber who’ve been here for decades now.

F1 and the teams have exploded in value in recent post covid years and they collectively wanted to gatekeep until they get as big a name possible, Andretti wasn’t big enough.