Michael Andretti stresses that Cadillac is not just involved in F1 engine name in Andretti Cadillac’s F1 participation plan.
Last week, Michael Andretti announced that he would partner with General Motors to enter F1 under the name Andretti Cadillac. Andretti will undoubtedly build the chassis, but did not give details of the engine plans, saying only that there are arrangements with existing manufacturers.
Cadillac has not registered as a manufacturer in the 2026 F1 regulations, but suggested that it plans to bring its own technology and know-how to the project to promote the power unit.
Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear about Andretti’s entry that the new team really needs the support of the manufacturer if it is to benefit its rivals.
Andretti’s acquisition of General Motors’ backing appeared to be a direct response to this. But F1 teams don’t see General Motors’ plans on par with the automaker’s all-out efforts.
The F1 team sees its entry into General Motors as more of a direct sponsorship deal than a game-changing new carmaker effort in F1. Some consider it less important than what Alfa Romeo has done with Sauber in recent years, or when TAG Heuer badged Renault engines in the past.
Given that the door is open for one of the automakers to sign a $20 million sponsorship deal for the same level of publicity, it will spend billions developing its own F1 power unit to find success in F1. It makes little sense to spend. Therefore, there are calls within the F1 paddock to change the rules to crack down on re-batch F1 power units in the future.
But Michael Andretti said the deal with General Motors was more than just a badge on the engine, Cadillac would take on a technical role, and that the situation could change when the new formula is introduced in 2026. He is adamant that things can change.
Asked about Renault’s proposed rebadging, Michael Andretti said: “It’s a rumor. It’s not true. Cadillac is very involved in making the car.”
“Going into 2025, we don’t have a new engine yet, so we have to use the formula that is currently in use.”
“But in 2026 there is a lot that we can do with another engine manufacturer. That engine will have Cadillac’s intellectual property, so it’s not just a badged engine.”
Michael Andretti has lashed out at incumbent teams for allegedly preventing Andretti-Cadillac from entering F1.
“It’s all about the money,” Michael Andretti told Forbes.
“First of all, they think they can dilute a tenth of the prize money, but they are very greedy to get all the American sponsors as well. I’m not thinking about what’s best for the growth of the series as a whole.”
F1 team owners and F1 are preventing Andretti from joining, but he has a powerful ally in Mohamed bin Sulayem. Earlier this week, the FIA president reiterated that there was plenty of room on the grid for additional teams.
“That’s the difference between President Mohammed’s position and the team owner’s position,” explained Michael Andretti.
“In F1, the owners are looking out for themselves, not what is best for the series. Chairman Mohamed is looking to the future of the sport. Mohamed understands that. He is a racer. Yes, we understand that we need one or two more teams in the series.”
