Andretti has officially announced his intention to enter the Formula 1 World Championship in partnership with General Motors brand Cadillac.
The two companies plan to submit an expression of interest when the FIA begins the process announced by President Mohamed Ben Sulaiman last week.
Michael Andretti – former F1 driver, IndyCar champion and son of 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti – has long sought an opportunity to break into F1. Andretti Global announced last year that it was building its headquarters in Indianapolis. The F1 operation will be based in the US with a “support facility” in England.
“We will continue to grow Andretti Global and its racing teams and always have our eyes on what’s next,” Andretti said. “I feel that we are very well suited to be a new team for Formula 1 and that we can bring value to the series and our partners and excitement to the fans.”
Andretti’s team worked with GM in IndyCar in 2012 when it used Chevrolet engines. “I am proud to have GM and Cadillac on our side as we pursue this goal,” continued Andretti. “GM and Andretti share a heritage born from the love of racing. Now we have the opportunity to combine our passion for motorsport and commitment to innovation to build a true American F1 bid.
The FIA is yet to confirm how the process for admitting new teams will be structured. “We will continue to follow the procedures and measures set by the FIA during the review process,” Andretti said.
“Until then, if we are lucky enough to have Andretti Cadillac approved as a Formula 1 contender, we will continue to prepare well.”
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Ben Sulaiman immediately responded to Andretti’s announcement on social media. “I welcome the news of the Cadillac Andretti partnership and the FIA looks forward to further discussions on the expressions of interest of the FIA F1 World Championship,” he said.
Cadillac has not previously competed in Formula 1. The announcement did not say whether the automaker intends to produce its own power unit or brand the operation.
GM President Marc Reuss said of the car giant: “We are honored to be teaming up with Andretti Global during this historic race.
We have a long and rich history in motorsports and engineering innovation, and we are excited at the prospect of combining with Andretti Global to form an American F1 team that will help inspire even more global interest in the series and the sport.
F1 has grown its viewership in the US in recent years and will hold three rounds in the country this season. “Both Cadillac and F1 have a growing global appeal,” Reus continued. “Our brand has a motorsport pedigree that is more than a century in the making, and we are proud to have the opportunity to bring our uniquely American innovation and design to F1.”
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