Micheal Andretti has spoken out after General Motors received an "agreement in principle" to join the Formula One grid in 2026 under its Cadillac branding.
The bid for entry for the American team was originally backed by Andretti Global. It had received approval from the FIA in October 2023, but reached a road block in January 2024 when Formula One Management rejected the entry.
Andretti had continued with it's push to join the sport with the unveiling of its new headquarters in Silverstone, England, and the signing of former F1 technical chief Pat Symonds.
However, after Michael Andretti recently stepped down as Andretti Global CEO, the bid seemed to get moving again. Formula One announced earlier today that it had reached an "agreement in principle" with General Motors to join the grid as an eleventh team in 2026. In the announcement, there was no mention of how Andretti might be involved with the new team.
Taking to social media, Micheal Andretti posted:
"The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team. I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!"
The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team. I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!
— Michael Andretti (@michaelandretti) November 25, 2024Dan Towriss, who took over from Andretti, has commented on the agreement to join the grid:
"We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1. Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world. We appreciate the FIA and FOM's support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship."
Speaking about the new "agreement in principle" Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei also commented:
"With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport.
"We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1. We are excited to move forward with the application process for the GM/Cadillac team to enter the Championship in 2026."
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also explained:
"General Motors and Cadillac's commitment to this project is an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport. We look forward to seeing the progress and growth of this application, certain of the full collaboration and support of all the parties involved."
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