After years of deliberation, the Cadillac F1 team finally received formal approval for 2026 competition just a few weeks ago. Getting General Motors onto the Formula 1 grid was a long and arduous process, not only requiring approval from the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM), but also persuading the 10 existing teams. That push ultimately cost GM $450 million.
As per a report from RacingNews365, GM ponied up to pay the $450 million “antidilution” fee to secure its spot as the 11th team on the grid. That fee will be split equally amongst the 10 current teams in accordance with the 2021 Concorde Agreement, which requires new entrants to pay $200 million up front to be shared among the 10 existing teams in exchange for having the right of revenue share in its first year of competition. Prior to this agreement, new teams were only entitled to prize money beginning in their second year of competition.
It’s not clear why GM paid out $450 million instead of the $200 million fee outlined by the Concorde Agreement. However, it’s worth noting that the current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of the 2025 season.
As a reminder, the Cadillac F1 team is on track to use GM-built power units in a few years’ as the automaker has registered as a power unit manufacturer. However, it will begin competition with Ferrari power units under the hood until the Cadillac power unit outfit is off the ground.
Comments
Stupid
Yet another non-related reason vehicle prices are completely out of control.
Anyone else fed up with pop-up ads automatically playing their audio here…even when you have pop-ups blocked. And even after you click off the ad and it disappears from your screen, it CONTINUES to play the audio. Which you cannot stop because the ad is no longer displayed. So you must turn off ALL volume on your device.
Which begs the question: “WHY ARE WE ON THIS SITE? To read the GM Authority blog or to be hijacked by annoying ads which actually DRIVE AWAY readers?”.
Time for GM Authority to intervene in the undermining of their entire product.
I’ve been a serious GM owner for years, currently with a 24 XT6 and 25 CT5. GM execs stated emphatically (at Daytona) that it was not financially viable to invest in ICE or hybrids while investing in EV. Yet they can buy into Formula One for $450M and invest hundreds of millions more into development of the car AND a HYBRID motor for it AND continue to invest serious change supporting IMSA and WEC prototypes (both using HYBRID tech). But somehow continuing to make an ICE based sedan (or even develop a new hybrid sedan) is simply too expensive to satisfy the large portion of customers that prefers them. I don’t get it.
They’re continuing to make the CT4 and CT5 and have already confirmed them for 2026.
In addition, all the top F1 teams are profitable even before they get to R&D and tax write-offs.
Yes but they are both already 6 year old designs (except for the CT5 “refresh”)and they have stated there will be no “new” ICE or hybrid following them. To be clear, I”ve had a continuing line of Caddys in my driveway for years and love the 25 CT5 sport which is parked next to my wife’s 24 XT6. I just don’t see any replacement for them coming out of GM in the future. Regarding F1, I wish them the best of luck but it still doesn’t benefit customers who will want an ICE or hybrid based vehicle in a few years.
Number one on the track Sunday, number one in sales Monday. So they say.
What did they pay for the superior Ferrari engine ?
F1 is still racing? Who knew?
Extortion ! IndyCar is so much more entertaining, and they don’t have that silly wing adjustment nonsense on the straights that favors the overtaking car. IndyCar needs to lengthen their season.
And think about this … NASCAR drivers are going to get a generic body, the Camaro will be gone.
Well. No. They’re still running the Camaro body without branding
And nothing for the stockholders.
Time to fire Crazy Mary …… GM can’t afford to spend $200 Million, let alone $450 Million Dollars to race with the Wine & Cheese Boys. If GM had several good years of sales, didn’t have V-8 engines with a bad case of “May Pop after about 20K miles, Colorado pickup roofs which can’t survive a car wash, overall quality issues, and sky high pricing, the list is long … that $450 million would have gone a long way in helping cure their “Major” engine issues. And GM, Ford, and Stelanis are wondering why they aren’t selling vehicles. Better wise up guys, both Nissan & Toyota are looking at past product to help their future sales, the Nissan N300 series pickup will be a great seller, as will the Toyota Stout series mini trucks … both are upgraded versions of mid 1970’s pickups.
Who is the wunderkind that thought this is a good idea. Your first showing on the track is with someone’s else’s engine??? This is the basic definition of a poor planning job; car should be ready to go on race one with all your factory equipment. Even if they win how can Cadillac take credit with a Ferreri engine, just stupid and competing in a class you’re not ready for.