Detroit-based General Motors and Indianapolis-based racing team Andretti Global announced Thursday their intention to field a bid to compete with the Cadillac brand in the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Andretti Cadillac’s team plans to file an expression of interest when the FIA opens the official process. If selected, the team seeks to compete as soon as practical with at least one American driver. The team will be based in the US with a support facility in the UK
Andretti Global is owned by former IndyCar Series champion and F1 driver Michael Andretti, son of racing legend Mario Andretti.
“We continue to grow Andretti Global and its family of racing teams and always have our eyes on what’s to come,” says Andretti. “I feel very strongly that we are qualified to be a new Formula 1 team and can offer value to the series and our partners, and excitement to the fans.
“I am proud to have GM and Cadillac on our side as we pursue this goal. GM and Andretti share a legacy born out of a love of racing. We now have the opportunity to combine our passion for motorsports with a dedication to innovation to build a true American F1 show.”
American Gene Haas, Haas F1 team owner and Haas Automation machine tool designer, is based in North Carolina but runs Ferrari engines and has drivers from Denmark and Germany.
Andretti continues: “Together we will continue to follow the procedures and steps established by the FIA during the assessment process.” “In the meantime, we continue to prepare optimistically if we are lucky enough to get Andretti Cadillac officially approved as a Formula One competitor.”
If successful, it would be the Detroit automaker’s first foray into the world’s premier racing series. GM has found success in other forms of auto racing, including drag racing, NASCAR, IndyCar, and sports car racing with Chevrolet and former brands Pontiac and Oldsmobile.
Cadillac has competed in American sports car racing in IMSA since 2017, amassing numerous wins, podiums and championships with the Cadillac DPi-VR. The brand will continue in sports car racing with the all-new Cadillac V-LMDh Hybrid, which will compete globally in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Andretti’s racing teams currently compete in seven different top-tier series around the world including the FIA Formula-E Championship for all-electric racers. The team has accumulated over 200 race wins, four IndyCar Series championships, four Indy Lights titles, and five Indianapolis 500 victories.
“GM is honored to be working with Andretti Global at this historic moment in racing,” says Mark Reuss, president of GM. “We have a long and rich history in motorsport and engineering innovation, and are thrilled at the prospect of pairing with Andretti Global to form an American F1 team that will help stimulate even more global interest in the series and the sport.
Cadillac and F1 have a growing global appeal. Our brand has a history in motorsports going back more than a century, and we would be proud to have the opportunity to bring our innovation and outstanding American design to Formula 1.”
Although historically not the most popular form of racing in the United States, it is the most popular racing event in the world hosting races in nearly 20 countries. F1 is gaining American fans. In 2023, the series will hold a Grand Prix in Austin, Texas; Miami and Las Vegas.
Once approved, Cadillac will be able to pit its technology against perennial Formula 1 competitors such as Mercedes, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, McLaren, Renault and Honda.