Why General Motors got the green light that Andretti did not

Formula 1’s statement on Monday that it is moving forward with plans to allow a General Motors entry could be viewed as a complete turnaround in attitude from series bosses.

It was only back in January that FOM declared an application by Andretti-Cadillac to enter F1 was rejected because it did not feel that what was proposed added value to the championship.

In a press release issued at the time that was primarily related to 2025, F1 said: “Our assessment process has established 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 entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.”

The rejection at the time triggered controversy and left Andretti hitting back – and taking its complaints to American politicians – in its bid to force a rethink. It also kept pushing on with its car preparations for 2026 at its new Silverstone base, even though there seemed to be no route for it to get an entry.

Fast forward to now, and F1’s attitude is very different. Where once the door was firmly shut in Andretti’s face despite General Motors’ involvement, now there are open arms.

So what has changed?

General Motors announcement

Photo by: General Motors

Part of it is down to the personalities involved, but more of it involves the shifts in the concept of the project that makes it a very different prospect in F1’s eyes.

It was not lost on anyone that in the three-page statement that FOM put out on Monday regarding the entry, there was not a single reference to the Andretti name.

Instead, the only hint about the involvement of any of the previous parties was a line about ‘partners at TWG Global’ – which is the company run by Dan Towriss, who took over operations at Andretti Global when Michael Andretti recently took a step back.

Michael Andretti and F1 had never particularly seen eye-to-eye on matters, but it was his decision to move away from day-to-day involvement in the squad that set in motion the chain of events that has led to today.

For Andretti’s exit opened the door for Towriss to take a pragmatic approach and realise that, if he was going to find a way to convince F1 to get an entry approved, things would have to be done in a different way with a much greater involvement from General Motors.

Autosport understands that key to getting F1 interested was in Towriss working with General Motors to change the nature of the deal. So where originally it was an Andretti car that would eventually hope to run a General Motors engine, but would have customer Renaults to begin with, the project being put on the table now is nothing like that.

This is now for a General Motors car, that would likely become a full works team from 2028 – even if initially it means customer Ferrari or Honda engines in the interim.

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, at the race start

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

The same parties involved yes, but from F1’s perspective two totally different prospects when it comes to adding value to the series.

Let us not forget that this was exactly what FOM was saying all the way back in January though – that there was a way that it felt the GM involvement could be positioned to get the application over the line.

“We would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 championship with a GM power unit, either as a GM works team or as a GM customer team designing all allowable components in-house,” said F1 at the time.

“In this case there would be additional factors to consider in respect of the value that the applicant would bring to the championship, in particular in respect of bringing a prestigious new OEM to the sport as a PU supplier.”

This then proved key, with even previous Andretti sceptic and Liberty CEO Greg Maffei helping getting it moving before his recent departure. Suggestions that his exit was a factor in the project getting F1 approval are understood to be wide of the mark.

The role that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem played in changing the scope of the deal should not be underestimated too – as he is understood to have been key in pushing GM down the works engine route. 

He also maintained the pressure in keeping things moving forward with the manufacturer despite the original rejection of Andretti. 

And having been the original instigator in opening up new team entries, the move by F1 to approve in principle the GM/Cadillac plan is a victory for his vision.

GM has certainly made a big push itself to get it over the line, and promised the kind of investment and groundbreaking levels of involvement that F1 would love to see.

The manufacturer’s president Mark Reuss said on Monday: “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence.

Mark Reuss, GM President

Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

“It’s an honour for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world.

“This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”

Towriss added: “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1.

“Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world. We appreciate FIA and FOM’s support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship.”

And while the Andretti name will not form a part of the new GM plan, it will not be totally expunged from the project.

The 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti is to serve as a director on the team’s board in a non-executive role and not involved in the day-to-day operations.

Michael Andretti, Mario Andretti, Dan Towriss, Andretti Global

Photo by: Andretti

Speaking about it, the veteran said: “My first love was Formula 1 and now – 70 years later – the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss. To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

While Michael Andretti will not be seeing through his ambitions to become an F1 team boss, he vowed on Monday to give his full support to it.

Posting on X, he said: “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team.

“I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!”