(L to R): James Vowles (GBR) Williams Racing Team Principal; Toto Wolff (GER) Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director; and Frederic Vasseur (FRA) Ferrari Team Principal, in the FIA Press Conference. 16.11.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 22, Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Practice Day.
Formula 1 teams remain against the addition of an 11th side despite the news that Andretti’s approval would introduce General Motors as a brand-new engine manufacturer.
Last week it was announced that General Motors had formally registered its interest with the FIA to become the latest producer of F1 powertrains from the 2028 season.
The power unit, which would be branded as a Cadillac, would be used by the prospective Andretti entry, which was finally accepted by the FIA at the beginning of last month.
However, the eponymous team – run by Michael Andretti, son of 1978 F1 World Champion Mario – is still awaiting an agreement with Formula One Management.
Andretti’s bid to become F1’s newest addition from 2025 has been met with stern opposition from the incumbent teams, who are concerned about a diluted prize pot.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur, who previously asserted Andretti must prove its worth beyond being an American entity, admits GM would be a welcome inclusion.
“I think every single new engine supplier is welcome in F1,” Vasseur said. “But it’s not the same story as the 11th team. It’s two separate questions. I think the real question is on the engine suppliers and we can have a new engine supplier.”
Despite suggestions that the brand could partner with another team, GM president Mark Reuss outlined that Cadillac’s F1 involvement is dependent on Andretti.
Williams team boss James Vowles was among those and he’s reaffirmed his stance opposing an 11th F1 team amid concerns over the financial implications involved.
“GM, I think, is a good company to bring into our sport,” Vowles reiterated. “We have no discussions with them, but I just think they’re the sort of company, the sort of OEM that will grow our sport as a result of things.
“But my view hasn’t changed on the additional 11th team, fundamentally. It’s still around the finances of Williams, which is where my focus is.”
Michael Andretti (USA). 21.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 19, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Sprint Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images
Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff also hasn’t “changed his opinion” on Andretti and GM’s collaboration, insisting that positive data is yet to be presented.
“GM is one of the big players, no doubt, and I guess if they say they want to join the sport in ’28, they are serious about it,” Wolff added. “It’s a good commitment.”
“But we’ve got to see whether the commercial rights holder deems this to be a good entry or not. For many teams, it’s a big dilution which can make the difference between big losses or less losses and I haven’t changed my opinion on that.
“We haven’t seen any data. Just to say ‘it’s going to be awesome’ – where’s the case? What are the numbers? How much can we gain in popularity? What’s the name worth? How much more can the sport be attractive?
“What’s the facts? And if those facts are positive, I have no doubt that F1 consider it in that way.”
With Andretti eyeing a maiden F1 campaign in 2025, the team would likely have to secure a deal with another powertrain provider for the interim period prior to GM’s arrival.
It was previously reported that Andretti had agreed on terms to a supply of Renault engines, but Alpine’s Interim Team Principal Bruno Famin revealed that had since expired.
Therefore, Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has questioned what would happen with Andretti on the power unit front in the interim period before the GM set-up arrives.
“I think it’s good news that GM wants to come into Formula 1,” the Italian-American agreed. “I don’t know the exact detail of how this process works because I never looked into it to do an engine in my life.”
“I don’t know if it changes something because I don’t know the details of this. “It’s ’28: What is happening until ’28?”
Keyword: F1 teams against Andretti entry despite GM engine scheme