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F1 Teams Greedy, Says Michael Andretti In Cadillac Bid To Enter Championship

Michael Andretti has characterized the current F1 teams’ negative reaction to a joint bid with Cadillac to enter the FIA Formula One (F1) World Championship racing series as “greedy.”

In a recent interview with Forbes, Andretti characterized the negative reaction as prioritizing self-interest over the growth and wellbeing of the series.

Cadillac Racing LMDh Le Mans Prototype

Cadillac Racing LMDh Le Mans Prototype

“It’s all about money,” Andretti told Forbes. “First, they think they are going to get diluted one-tenth of their prize money, but they also get very greedy thinking we will take all the American sponsors as well.”

As GM Authority reported previously, Andretti Global and Cadillac recently announced a partnership to form a new F1 entry, possibly dropping in as the eleventh team on the grid. However, in response to the announcement, it was reported that a “strong majority” of F1 teams were against Cadillac and Andretti Global entering the series.

Despite the pushback from rival teams, some key players support the idea, including Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who serves as the head of the FIA, the governing body that oversees F1. In posts to social media, Ben Sulayem commented that he was surprised that the proposed Cadillac / Andretti team entry was met with an adverse reaction.

Cadillac Racing LMDh Le Mans Prototype

Cadillac Racing LMDh Le Mans Prototype

“We should be encouraging prospective F1 entries from global manufacturers like @GM and thoroughbred racers like Andretti and others,” Ben Sulayem wrote in a tweet, adding, “Interest from teams in growth markets adds diversity and broadens @F1’s appeal.”

The comments hint at possible tension between the FIA and F1’s commercial rights holders, Liberty Media, as well as the current F1 teams.

“President Mohammad is looking out for the future of the sport,” Andretti told Forbes. “Mohammad gets it.”

Cadillac Racing LMDh Le Mans Prototype

Cadillac Racing LMDh Le Mans Prototype

Looking ahead, the proposed Cadillac / Andretti team entry will require approval from both F1 and the FIA before it can enter the series. Even if approved, lengthy admission protocols mean that a new team would not be able to compete until 2026 at the earliest.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. *shocked*
    Like I said in the last post, bring it on Cadillac.

    Reply
  2. F1 is full of great drivers who are cut-throat primadonnas.

    Reply
    1. They also have a bunch of drivers who are not great that pay a lot of money for a ride.

      The HAAS driver from Russia only got the ride due to money dad paid.

      This is mostly about money.

      Reply
  3. F1 is a European brand and doesn’t want and an american brand steal their “Europeans make better cars” marketing shtick to herds. Because they know very well if GM really wants to show off they will have no chance against it.

    Reply
    1. I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I’m a GM guy through and through, but there is no chance they could build a 1.6 Turbo V6 by 2026 that would be remotely competitive with the current Merc/Ferarri/Honda/Renault power units

      Reply
      1. No chance? C’mon. How about “an uphill battle” or “will have some serious work to do”. It’s GM. Modestly put, they have resources.

        Reply
  4. Hopefully the young Andretti becomes far more serious about a commitment to field a committed contender than he did when he was given the opportunity to drive in F-1. He took a half azzed approach to his F-1 driving opportunities and failed miserably at becoming a top contender when he was presented his F-1 “Golden Ticket”. I think GM would be far wiser to team with HAAS Racing myself.

    Reply
  5. Nothing says “sportsmanship” like stacking the deck in your favor, huh?

    Reply
  6. Incorporating Cadillac is going to be very good to revive F1 and for the global image of Cadillac and GM

    Reply
  7. *Posts article about F1*

    *Not a single picture of an F1 car*

    Reply
    1. True. But that LMD car is bad-ass!

      Reply
  8. A key part to F1 is the off track drama. They have more drama than the House Wife’s of the OC.

    This is how they have survived for so many years where on team dominated and they would have maybe on pass for the race lead.

    The Americans involved now are working to make for more racing on the track and more teams able to win. This is not going over well with the old boys club.

    Just look at Colton Herta and the trouble to get a Super License. To do this you almost have to move to Europe and race the feeder series even if you have won an Indy Championship anymore. They still require min three languages to be in the series.

    They would rather talk about the pass that did not happen than the one that did. They do focus on the tech but then they drive up cost so much only a few teams remain constant.

    I would love to see them go to cars where they still have tech but less electronics. Make the cars so the driver is a major factor back to what we saw around the 1967 like when Gurney won spa in a car and engine he developed. While Goodyear funded it this was more brains than money.

    Todays driver need to be in good shape to survive the G loads of the brakes and handling. That is the hardest part of these cars. IN the old cars you really had to have driving skills and guts since you were surrounded by magnesium and gas. You skipped the seat belt in hopes you would be thrown out to not burn.
    I would love to see these cars safer but much harder to drive.

    These modern driver jump into Clarks Lotus or Gurneys Eagle and they marvel how they were as fast as they were.

    Reply

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