Danny Herbert

Since Andretti-Cadillac’s bid to join the Formula 1 grid was rejected by Formula 1, it has been abundantly clear that the entry would need to change significantly.

So, why exactly have, in F1’s view, all the right pieces now seemingly fallen into place?

In September this year, Michael Andretti stood down from his overarching leadership role at Andretti Global, with the organisation now in the hands of Dan Towriss, CEO of Group 1001.

This factor alone has appeared to have offered General Motors (GM) and Andretti Global a chance to start fresh politically. Therefore, the manufacturer is now looking to enter as its own team owner in 2026 – rather than as a partner to an Andretti entry. A revitalised entry will likely still utilise the previously mooted Cadillac name, but without the outfit being run day-to-day by Andretti.

The team will continue ahead with its plan to introduce its own GM power unit from 2028, meaning the team would morph into a de-facto works team after two seasons with a Ferrari or Honda customer deal – those are the two most likely prospects from the existing suppliers.

Nonetheless, the target to convince F1 again would have been ahead of a 2028 entry if the team had stayed in its Andretti-Cadillac form, but the team’s short-term value was in doubt and seen as unlikely to break the mould.

It’s clear that to rejuvenate this project ahead of F1’s determined schedule, a management shift and a manufacturer-led rebrand is just what the project needed. Now this has seemingly happened, F1 is set to approve the team’s entry with GM deciding to take the helm and go it alone without prominent Andretti family leadership.

With a shift in leadership, the prospective team will be a lot less reliant on its previously Michael Andretti operated side of the business. It’s abundantly clear Andretti rubbed quite a few senior F1 personnel the wrong way in his confrontational approach and tactics to force his way onto the grid.

The most public of which included his antics at the Miami Grand Prix in 2022, lobbying several teams in full view of the paddock.

Mario Andretti reportedly suggested that Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei had claimed he would make sure never to allow Andretti an entry into F1. Maffei recently announced his departure from his role.

Even if you overlook those disputes, there were clear doubts within F1 around how involved GM (in its Cadillac guise) would actually be, as this is where the value was truly thought to be in F1’s eyes.

F1 didn’t see much in the way of commercial value or future competitiveness in an Andretti-run entry that featured a smattering of assistance from GM, especially with the championship already having an established American owned, non-manufacturer led outfit in Haas F1 Team.

However, Andretti has continued to build an F1 team operation from the ground up and, most importantly, opened its Silverstone and Indianapolis bases already and hired several high-profile figures including former F1 Chief Technical Officer, Pat Symonds.

These elements may now have to be transferred from Andretti to GM’s control, depending how involved the former would still be in the F1 team.

On the surface then, it appears F1’s stance has finally been shifted on one of the most decisive teams in history – one that isn’t even on the grid yet!

“If a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story,” Mercedes CEO and Team Principal, Toto Wolff, stated on Thursday in Las Vegas.

“And as long as it is creative, that means we’re growing the popularity of the sport, we’re growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it.”