American car brand General Motors has announced its registration as a Formula 1 power-unit supplier starting from the 2028 season.
Running parallel to the Cadillac division of GM and the Andretti team’s bid to join Formula 1, a decision still pending official approval, General Motors has since released a statement indicating that preparations for their F1 engine, compliant with the upcoming new engine rules, have already started.
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President of GM, Mark Reuss, expressed the company’s “confidence” in creating a “successful power unit for the series”.
Reuss further emphasised GM’s “deep engineering and racing expertise”.
The forthcoming engine regulation changes, set for 2026, will feature hybrid engines with a larger percentage of their power derived from electricity than current regs and will use synthetic, fully sustainable fuels.
The announcement also mentioned: “Engineering a F1 power unit will advance GM’s expertise in areas including electrification, hybrid technology, sustainable fuels, high efficiency internal combustion engines, advanced controls and software systems.”
Recently, the FIA sanctioned Andretti’s participation in Formula 1. However, endorsement from F1’s commercial rights owner Liberty Media is still pending, with a somewhat cautious stance on Andretti’s entry.
Originally, Andretti and GM intended to use a Cadillac-branded Renault engine for their 2025 debut. However, recent information reveals the termination of Andretti’s contract with Renault.
F1 regulations require any team without an engine supplier to receive engines from an existing manufacturer.
GM’s intention to develop its engine, expected to be ready shortly after their potential entry, puts additional pressure on F1 to approve the Andretti-GM collaboration.
Stefano Domenicali, F1’s president, has stated the need to consider “a lot of dimensions” and advised against hastily reacting to pressures to accept the team on the grid.
The existing ten teams are unanimously against Andretti joining F1.
The sport’s governing documents, known as the Concorde Agreement, permit a maximum of 12 F1 teams. They require a $200m (£160m) anti-dilution fee to be paid to the current teams to offset their reduced share of F1’s funds.
Some teams argue that $200m undervalues their worth, especially given the sport’s growing popularity and the estimated $1bn (£820m) value of top teams.
Discussions are ongoing about increasing the anti-dilution fee in the next Concorde Agreement, starting in 2026.
Despite F1’s initial reluctance to admit a new team, recent sentiment within the sport suggests eventual acceptance of Andretti might be necessary.
An entry from Andretti, with its strong connections to the American market, is seen as potentially beneficial for F1. Mario Andretti, father of Andretti Global’s Michael Andretti and a motorsport icon, along with Michael’s notable IndyCar achievements, strengthens this view.
Combining the Andretti legacy with Cadillac, a symbol of American luxury automotive, is seen as a strategic move to elevate F1’s prominence in key markets.
Reuss commented on the decision to develop their engine, stating it will “position Andretti Cadillac as a true works team”.
He concluded: “We will run with the very best, at the highest levels, with passion and integrity that will help elevate the sport for race fans around the world.”
Source: BBC
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