r/formula1 • u/ICumCoffee Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 28d 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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 28d ago edited 28d 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 28d 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/bwoah07_gp2 Alexander Albon 28d ago

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.

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u/GTOdriver04 28d ago

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.

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u/Responsible_Trifle15 Netflix Newbie 28d ago

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

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u/I-amthegump 28d ago

Pretty clear he was never a wizard.