The Formula 1 sets its conditions to Andretti and GM for an arrival in 2028
Andretti has just been denied entry to the grid in 2025 or 2026. However, Formula 1 might allow the American team to come in if General Motors Group commits to providing its own power units.
The announcement surprised many in the paddock. F1 rejected Andretti/Cadillac’s entry into the Formula 1 World Championship for 2025 and 2026, despite the project having been approved by the FIA a few months earlier.
Our evaluation process has determined that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the Championship. The most significant way in which a new participant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the Candidate would be a competitive participant, reads the statement.
Already present in other motorsport disciplines like Indycar or Formula E, the Andretti family wanted to join Formula 1 with the support of General Motors through the Cadillac brand. While the announcement of this refusal is surprising, Formula 1 seems to expect more involvement from the American GM manufacturer in order to potentially validate an entry in 2028.
A potentially accepted arrival in 2028 if…
A new engine and chassis regulation will arrive in Formula 1 in 2026. Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault, and Honda will be present, as well as Audi, which will take control of Stake F1 (Sauber), and Ford, which will partner with Red Bull and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls as a technical supplier and support for Red Bull Power Trains.
On the other hand, Andretti’s candidacy did not feature GM engines. The group had expressed that they were not against the idea of producing their own engines for F1, but that it would take time. Andretti therefore applied, justifying the purchase of engines from one of the engine suppliers for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Discussions were already well advanced with the Renault group in particular.
However, this scheme did not appeal to the F1. The statement suggests that if GM wanted to be more involved in F1 by supplying an engine to Andretti, then it could help consider entering the 2028 World Championship.
The 20th point of the F1 press release explains: « We would view differently a request for entry of a team into the 2028 Championship with a GM power unit, either as a GM factory team or as a GM customer team designing all authorized components internally. »
In this case, there would be additional factors to consider regarding the value that the Candidate would bring to the Championship, especially in regards to the contribution of a prestigious new constructor in the sport as an engine supplier, specifies the statement.
