F1 rejects Andretti/Cadillac’s bid to become 11th team

Formula 1 has formally denied the bid for Cadillac-backed Andretti Formula Racing to become the sport’s 11th team, claiming the new squad wouldn’t “add value” or be competitive.

Andretti was on track to join F1 in 2025 or 2026 after its bid was approved by the sport’s governing body, the FIA, late last year. However the new team had yet to get the green light from Formula 1 itself which holds the category’s commercial rights and had long expressed concerns over expanding the grid.

Formula 1 divides its prize money between its teams, so any additional team would need to provide it would add significant value to ensure the earnings of the existing teams wouldn’t decline.

F1 says its assessment of Andretti, which is backed by 1978 F1 world champion Mario and his son Michael, is that “the presence of an 11th team would not, in and of itself, provide value to the championship.”

“The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive,” continued F1’s official statement. “We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.”

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Michael Andretti (left) with Ford's Jim Farley and Ryan Walkinshaw.

Mario Andretti took to social media to say he’s “devastated” by today’s announcement, although F1 did hint it “would look differently” on Andretti’s bid if it wished to try again for the 2028 season.

The Andretti family is hugely successful in global motorsport and it currently competes in seven different categories around the world, including Australia's Supercars championship in partnership with Ford and Walkinshaw Racing.

Since Michael Andretti’s involvement, the team has won the IndyCar championship four times and won the iconic Indianapolis 500 five times. It also won last year’s Formula E world championship.

Andretti’s bid to join Formula 1 included a partnership with General Motors, which joined with its Cadillac brand in January 2023. GM announced plans to produce engines for the Andretti team if it was approved to join the grid.

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Mario Andretti (right) during his racing heyday next to Ronnie Peterson

Andretti has since released its own official response to F1’s rejection, saying it “strongly disagrees” and that work “continues at pace” to join the grid.

“Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents,” they said.

“Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organisations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, competing alongside the world’s best.

“We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace.

“Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support.”