Michael Andretti’s proposed entry into F1 has taken an unexpected twist, with reports emerging of a new contender entering discussions to become the 11th team on the grid. Despite backing from General Motors, Andretti’s initial bid was dismissed earlier this year, as F1 Management argued it would not add sufficient value to the sport.
With Andretti stepping away from the project, businessman Dan Towriss has taken the lead, sparking renewed discussions about a General Motors-Cadillac bid. Reports suggest this fresh proposal has become a focal point for potential F1 entry talks during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
F1 and their management are expected to make a decision soon on whether to grant the General Motors-backed entry a spot as the 11th team on the grid. Towriss was seen at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Thursday, assessing his prospects of entering the prestigious motorsport series.
FBI officials are anticipated to be in Las Vegas this weekend as part of ongoing US government investigations into the reasons behind Liberty Media’s rejection of Andretti’s FIA-approved team entry.
General Motors aims to enter F1 as a new team and develop its own power units, though these are not anticipated to be ready until the end of the 2028 season.
🇺🇸| Andretti rejected, Cadillac welcomed with open arms: Here’s why!
— General Motors, under the Cadillac brand name, is set to join the Formula 1 grid as the eleventh team in 2026, replacing the previously Andretti-led F1 project.
— Michael Andretti stepped down as CEO of… pic.twitter.com/Md5mhNHfmc
— This is Formula 1 (@ThisIsFormu1a1) November 22, 2024
Mercedes Toto Wolff backed the potential of the 11th team in F1, saying it will help to grow the popularity of the sport along with increasing the revenue.
“And as long as it is creative, that means we’re growing the popularity of the sport, we’re growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it. So I’m putting my hope in there.”
Wolff also expressed a strong interest in hearing directly from Towriss about the future direction of the organization now that Andretti has taken a step back from his role.
“No one from Andretti or Andretti Global or whatever the name will be has ever spoken to me a single sentence in the presentation of what the creative part is,” he said. “But they don’t need to because the teams don’t decide. It is the commercial rights holder, with the FIA, we have no say.”
What will the entry of the 11th team mean for F1?
Many existing teams have opposed the addition of an 11th team to F1, arguing that it would dilute the prize money and add to the significant expenses they have already committed to the series. However, Andretti and others believe that the teams’ stance is driven more by personal reasons, as they simply don’t want to see Andretti enter the competition.
The introduction of the 11th team will also cause safety issues for drivers due to overcrowding of the tracks, especially the street tracks like Las Vegas, Azerbaijan, Monaco, and Saudi Arabia. The qualifying format will also face issues due to the constant traffic that the drivers will have to navigate while on their respective flying laps.
Another major challenge will be managing pit stops. Due to the unforgiving nature of street circuits, overtaking is typically a difficult task, with many drivers depending on strategic moves to gain positions. The inclusion of an additional team could complicate race strategies further, requiring drivers to be even more precise in managing tire wear, fuel levels, and opportunities for overtaking.
While it will make the races even more strategic, it threatens to eliminate the ultimate thrill of racing, when it comes to overtaking on the track.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
