Andretti, who attempted to enter as the 11th Formula 1 team during the tender launched by the FIA, was unable to convince Liberty Media and the other 10 teams on its own. Formula 1 then requested the support of a renowned manufacturer. It was General Motors, with its distinctive brand Cadillac, already engaged in Hypercar endurance racing, that took over the project, with the continued support of Andretti.
The factory that had begun hiring dozens of employees for its construction in England has thus been acquired by Cadillac and officially became Cadillac Formula Racing Limited last week.
« This change marks an important step in our ambition to establish Cadillac as an unstoppable force in global motorsport, thus reinforcing our commitment to a successful entry into Formula 1. » explained the team’s statement, which is just starting to create its social media accounts.
A still provisional name
However, if it is known that Cadillac will be the flagship of the American team, it could welcome a title sponsor or be slightly renamed, as is the case for most F1 teams.
Thus, the statement specifies that this name is not final: « Although this new name reflects our aspirations, it could still evolve based on the requirements of the Formula 1 regulatory approval process. » explains the team’s statement.
The team will therefore need to find a title sponsor and could welcome Andretti as a title sponsor, for example, to officially become Andretti Cadillac F1 Team on the grid, but can also establish sponsorships with different companies.
The team has communicated strong ambitions to become competitive in F1 as soon as possible: « The transition to Cadillac Formula Racing Limited symbolizes the integration of Cadillac’s legendary innovation with Andretti’s racing heritage. The UK-based team will play a central role in our technical and engineering progress, ensuring that Cadillac aligns on the Formula 1 grid as a competitive and formidable team. »
« In the future, our British team remains focused on key preparations, including technical partnerships, infrastructure improvement, and the recruitment of high-level engineering talent. This name change is only the beginning of a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving sustainable success in Formula 1. »