Formula One Rejects Andretti Cadillac Bid For A Spot On The Grid
Formula One has rejected Andretti Global’s application to become its 11th team in 2025.
Andretti proposed launching the team with customer power units before Cadillac could begin supplying it as a partner in 2028.
The series said a review of the plan determined that the team would not add value to the series.
“Any 11th team should show that its participation and involvement would bring a benefit to the Championship. The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive, in particular by competing for podiums and race wins. This would materially increase fan engagement and would also increase the value of the Championship in the eyes of key stakeholders and sources of revenue such as broadcasters and race promoters,” the decision said.
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Andretti, primarily run by Michael Andretti, currently fields teams in IndyCar, IMSA, Formula E, Australian Supercars and several other series and had already started development of its Formula One car.
“While the Andretti name carries some recognition for F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around,” Formula One said.
Formula One’s next generation car is scheduled for 2026 and it said it couldn’t see how a new team could design one for 2025 and another for 2026 and be competitive, especially with a customer engine. It said that it might “look differently” on a 2028 bid with Cadillac involved.
Andretti Cadillac issued a statement saying it strongly disagrees with the decision.
“Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organizations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, competing alongside the world’s best. We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace. Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support.”
Michael’s father Mario, who was the 1978 Formula One champion, posted to Twitter “I’m devastated. I won’t say anything else because I can’t find any other words besides devastated.”
Formula One currently has three U.S. races on the calendar and recently filed trademarks for a Chicago Grand Prix, which has not been announced. Haas F1 is its only American-owned team, but it has never fielded an American driver. Andretti had previously said that it plans to have at least one American driver on its team.
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Ford is set to enter Formula One as a power unit supplier to Red Bull in 2026.
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