Formula 1 rejected Andretti Global’s bid to join motorsport’s premier series in 2025 or 2026, but said on Wednesday it was prepared to re-evaluate it in 2028 when General Motors has developed an engine ready for the competition.
General Motors, through its Cadillac brand, had entered into a partnership with Michael Andretti to join F1 – a candidacy which was far from unanimous among the 10 existing teams and the management of the series.
The process began to stall when GM indicated in November that it had registered with F1’s umbrella organization to become an engine supplier starting in 2028. F1 therefore found stuck, because it would have been very difficult to look up to one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, especially an American company when the series was starting to be popular in the United States.
The FIA said last July that it had approved Andretti’s application to add two cars to the grid, but F1 took more than six months to complete its analysis of the file. The FIA had given F1 until Wednesday to announce its decision.
“Our analysis process made it possible to determine that the presence of an 11th team would not, in itself, improve the value of our championship,” we read in the F1 press release. Although the Andretti name resonates with F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would enhance the value of the Andretti brand, rather than the other way around. »
F1 would like to welcome Andretti only when General Motors is ready to supply an engine for the competition. If Andretti had received approval from the series to join the grid, then he would have used another engine manufacturer to power his cars until 2028.
“The best way for a new team to add value to our league would be to be competitive. We consider that the Candidate would not be competitive, added F1. The fact that a new team must conclude an agreement with an engine manufacturer already involved (in F1), possibly for several seasons, would tarnish the prestige and reputation of the championship. »
GM has already begun development and testing of a prototype, and the American manufacturer has stressed that efforts to develop an F1 engine will serve to improve its electric, hybrid, green fuel and efficiency technologies. energy of its internal combustion engines, as well as its control parameters and its computer systems.
F1 has adopted new engine rules for 2026, which will emphasize green fuels and electrification. Six manufacturers have concluded an agreement with the FIA to supply it with new generation engines from 2026, including the newcomer, Audi, which will be a partner with Sauber. Ford also plans to make a return to F1 with the manufacturer Red Bull, three-time reigning world champion. Honda also plans to become an official supplier starting in 2026.
Andretti was the only one of his candidates in the running to meet all the FIA criteria to increase the grid from 10 to 11 teams, and since his car was already built, then he hoped to be able to participate in the championship as early as 2025. F1 put an end to those hopes on Wednesday, although the saga may now end up in court despite F1 indicating it is prepared to re-evaluate Andretti’s candidacy in 2028.