F1 suddenly positive about Andretti Cadillac? 'That's a good thing'

With General Motors' commitment to supply engines to Formula 1 from 2028, another chapter has been added to the (now) soap opera surrounding whether or not the Andretti team will join F1. With the Cadillac brand, GM - one of the largest carmakers in the world - wants to supply Andretti with power units. Is this the missing link for the current teams to let the American combination make their entrance on the grid?

Toto Wolff, team boss of Mercedes, says he is happy to have General Motors in Formula 1, but at the same time holds back: "Well, GM is one of the big players, no doubt. I guess if they say they want to join the sport in '28, they're serious about it, and it's a good commitment. We've got to see whether the commercial rights holder deems this to be a good entry or not."

Wolff reiterated that an additional team will ensure that revenues for the other teams may decrease. "I haven't changed my opinion on that. We haven't seen any data. Just to say, it's going to be awesome. Where's the case? What are the numbers? How much can we gain in popularity? What's the name worth? How much more can the sport be attractive? What are the facts? And if those facts are positive, I have no doubt that F1 will consider that in that way."

Does Williams want to buy away General Motors?

In fact, there are already whispers that Williams secretly hopes to turn to General Motors for their power unit as well. James Vowles would not say anything about that. "I saw the same news you did. I can't really comment much on that. I don't know what the relationship is between those two entities. My comment was more that GM, I think, is a good company to bring into our sport. That was more what it's around. We have no discussions with them, but I just think they're the sort of company, the sort of OEM that will grow our sport as a result of things. But my view hasn't changed on the additional 11th team fundamentally. It's still around the finances of Williams, which is where my focus is."

Fred Vasseur(Ferrari) also seems to have moderated his tone: "Every single new engine supplier is welcome in F1. It's not the same story as the 11th team. It's two separate equations. I think your question is on the engine suppliers, and we can have a new engine supplier." His colleague Zak Brown, the big boss at McLaren, knows General Motors well. He is positive about the news. "We partner with GM in our IndyCar team. They've got a great history in motor racing, and the more power units in the sport, the better."