Andretti urges F1 to embrace Cadillac's participation
Jan.17 - General Motors and Cadillac really are serious about succeeding in Formula 1.
That is the insistence of Mario Andretti, Formula 1's 1978 world champion whose son Michael is bidding to enter a team in the sport in 2025 or 2026.
Initially, it would be with a customer Renault or Honda engine - but rebadged as Cadillac as part of a new collaborative push to get the new Andretti Autosport team approved.
Mario Andretti presents the Pirelli pole position award to Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG during the 2019 Formula One United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas
FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem is keen to fast-track the process, but multiple existing teams remain highly opposed to Andretti-Cadillac's plans.
"Anyone who joins this environment must do so by bringing with them the necessary growth so that everyone ends up in a better situation, or at least in an equivalent situation," insisted Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
"There are a lot of great things about Andretti and Cadillac, there just needs to be a good understanding of how it will grow F1, and by how much."
Mario Andretti reveals that Cadillac is interested in much more than a mere engine rebranding deal.
"General Motors already has a technology centre for motorsport," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
"And they will continue to invest in this department to eventually cover all technical aspects of the car and engine themselves."
The 82-year-old says Cadillac's current image is as a "luxury brand", but now the push is on to give it a sexier and faster reputation.
"Formula 1 fits perfectly into their strategy," Andretti said. "Actually, Formula 1 should be saying 'welcome Cadillac'.
"This could be a historic moment."
In reality, Andretti and Cadillac are essentially at the mercy of the existing teams' lack of enthusiasm and the long and costly F1 approval process.
"The FIA has already asked us many very specific questions and we were able to answer all of them to our complete satisfaction," Andretti said.
"The president has everything in writing that is needed for an application. When that wasn't enough, we were asked for the commitment of a manufacturer - and we delivered it.
"What else can we deliver?
"I don't think anyone could understand if Formula 1 were to reject a major American manufacturer. And if Ford were to come in too, that would be a dream."
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Time for the FIA to pull in the reins on participants overriding votes. The inmates are running the asylum. I believe the current Concorde Agreement expires 2025. Here are the rules. If you don't like it, don't race. Dilute that, Mr. Wolff.
FIA is displaying very poor leadership on the addition of more teams to compete in the championships. It's all about money and the fear of all teams needing to be competitive. It has become a closed door operation, with secret handshakes. It would be great to see a true American team competing in F1.
However, I find it amusing that GM want to get into an ICE car competition, especially when their CEO Barra revealed she has set a path to end it's ICE lineup in 2028! Are they expecting F1 to change course and be all electric?
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