General Motors will enter Formula 1 as a power unit manufacturer in 2028, the American car manufacturing giant announced today.
It will produce a unit built to the new power unit regulations Formula 1 is due to introduced in 2026. It will be branded as a Cadillac.The manufacturer also reaffirmed it is only prepared to enter F1 in conjunction with the new team entered by Andretti Global. Andretti’s planned F1 team was approved by the FIA last month but is yet to agree commercial terms with Formula One Management.
“We are thrilled that our new Andretti Cadillac F1 entry will be powered by a GM power unit,” said GM president Mark Reuss. “With our deep engineering and racing expertise, we’re confident we’ll develop a successful power unit for the series, and position Andretti Cadillac as a true works team.”
The arrival of GM will increase the number of power unit manufacturers participating in F1 to seven. They will compete against Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Audi, Renault and Red Bull-Ford.
“We will run with the very best, at the highest levels, with passion and integrity that will help elevate the sport for race fans around the world,” added Reuss.
The American manufacturer made the announcement ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is the newest addition to F1’s calendar and the third round to take place in the United States this year.
Reuss stressed GM is “committed to partnering with Andretti to race in F1.”
“The collaboration between Andretti-Cadillac brings together two unique entities built for racing, both with long pedigrees of success in motorsport globally.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed the news. “This is a further endorsement of the FIA’s PU regulations,” he wrote on social media. “The presence of iconic American brands Andretti and GM is good for the sport.”
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Drop Saudi
14th November 2023, 14:13
Better get the Aussies to help them if they want their block to win again.
Don
14th November 2023, 14:36
I don’t think so.
Drop Saudi
14th November 2023, 23:00
Well it is the only way a GM block achieved a victory in the past.
grat
15th November 2023, 14:17
Really? I realize that Le Mans and F1 aren’t exactly the same thing, but both Corvette and Cadillac have had more than a little success in Le Mans / Daytona racing.
I don’t think GM’s ever had an engine in Formula One before.
StephenH
14th November 2023, 14:14
Good luck to them. Hope they ruffle some more feathers.
Patrick (@paeschli)
14th November 2023, 14:33
The question is how many manufacturers will be left by 2030.
GeeMac (@geemac)
15th November 2023, 4:18
I can’t see there being more than 4: Ferrari, Mercedes, RBPT and Renault.
HAL
14th November 2023, 14:55
Very exited to the prospect of reading a new set of excuses made by the existing team to reject the candidacy of Andretti
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
14th November 2023, 15:15
It’s great to see another engine manufacturer coming in. We went from a few manufacturer’s supplying 3-4 teams each to soon having 6 and then 7 teams with a “works” deal. Exciting times are ahead, very happy to see it.
isthatglock21
14th November 2023, 15:16
Lol yeah right. 90% of what Andretti/Cadialc say is simply a PR war to push through their entry. If they ever got in you would see the biggest retraction & shift towards the Haas ever. Promise the world & once your in take the easy, sensible route to survive. F1 is not that easy.
Gerrit
14th November 2023, 15:33
Someone is suffering from “the glass half empty” syndrome. Love the positive attitude!!
montreal95 (@montreal95)
14th November 2023, 16:50
The said sour grapes commenter also seems to be clueless about the commitment required of a top level global company to put up a commitment in writing to supply F1 engines and what it would cost them to retract it later. Low level comment in every way.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
15th November 2023, 13:14
@montreal95
The VW group and Porsche have just entered the chat !
Dex
14th November 2023, 19:26
Sure, they’d probably have to pay up to 600m EUR only for the entrance free, not to mention their own expenses, only to fool around and pull a PR stunt. Plus you’re talking about Andretti, the name that actually means something in the world of motorsport, not some TikTok (or whatever) influencer or whatever it is that you imagine this is.
I wish them all success, and if they get declined, I may lose interest in this sport. Too many disappointing decisions already, eventually one will be one too many. No, watching Toto Horner show with Steiner as a witty sidekick for the next 20 years won’t be enough. We need some new blood, even if only to fight in the midfield.
anon
15th November 2023, 22:54
Dex, I’m not sure where you are getting that €600 million fee from.
If you are talking specifically about GM’s registration with the FIA as an engine supplier under the 2026 regulations, the answer is that it’s a nominal fee to enter. The FIA has confirmed that the current registration process is for registering expressions of interest in supplying engines – there is no obligation to produce an engine and no penalties if a manufacturer subsequently withdrew that expression of interest.
MichaelN
14th November 2023, 22:47
One of the reason new manufacturers are interested is that the 2026 rules are relatively easy for these organizations to make. The regulations are so prescriptive that it’s almost a blueprint, and with F1 admitting it now balances the engines (effectively a BoP), it’s a good time to be an engine supplier and score some ‘F1 credit’ for the company without the risk of another Honda-like embarrassment.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
15th November 2023, 13:35
MichaelN,
Don’t bother mate, folks are buzzing about the 2026 rules, yet most haven’t bothered to read or understand them. That’s the crux of it, the rules were tweaked to open the door for new manufacturers.
Dropping the MGU-H and marginalizing the ICE by standardizing components like the engine block, crankshaft, connecting rods, pumps… or their design (piston, crank, valves, injector position, turbocharger wheels…) will make it almost impossible for a manufacturer to get it wrong the way Honda did in 2015.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
14th November 2023, 17:40
I like the fact they’ve been explicit that they join with Andretti, or they don’t.
However joining in 2028, 2 years late, doesn’t sound too great. Just ask Honda…
Roy Beedrill
14th November 2023, 23:29
The last time I checked Honda powered team had more than twice amount of points than a nearest competitor 😉
Alan Dove
15th November 2023, 9:49
The 4 year timeline is an FIA regulation if I am not mistaken. The earliest they can enter in 2028 come rain or shine.
black (@black)
14th November 2023, 18:04
I don’t believe GM will produce a power unit. They very conveniently said 2028 (not that they would be ready by 2026 anyway…), to give them just enough time for Andretti to join officially the grid and then I believe they would backtrack as a PU supplier, like Aston Martin did in 2021 or Porsche in 2026.
It’s just an extra push to convince everyone that Andretti is serious, has the backing of GM and should join F1 (which they absolutely should, irregardless of the PU deal!). It shifts the “game” from turning down an small independent team that wants to take away money from the poor teams, into turning down a gigantic manufacturer such as GM, one of the icons of the American system that Liberty so badly wants to attract – so that rejecting the Andretti bid, now seems like suicidal for F1.
And if I’m wrong, then even better. 7 engine manufacturers when not too long ago we were struggling to attract a 4th one… Well played Andretti!
T
14th November 2023, 19:12
Huh?
This is what they’ve wanted this whole time!
What did you think “additive value” meant?
In a matter of weeks GM has gone from the usual non committal PR talk and vague promises to an Andretti or nothing approach and an actual tactile PU commitment. I’d argue it’s rather well played FOM + teams.
black (@black)
14th November 2023, 19:33
2028 is still a long time into the future, who knows if the engine deal will actually come through – while the Andretti bid has to be accepted/rejected in the next months, in order for them to enter in 2025 as planned. GM hasn’t built anything yet and they haven’t commited speding money about anything yet, they just said they ‘intend’ to enter if Andretti gets in. FOM still needs to decide on Andretti based on a vague promise.
FOM may have wanted at least that engine deal (I don’t know how the teams are winning anything in any case with/without GM), but like I said, I honestly doubt that GM will enter the sport as engine manufacturer, and pour millions of dollars just to fund a new inexperienced indepented team. It would look as Honda 2015 partnering with Haas 2016 – no experience from any party. I view it as a smart play by the Andretti-GM bid that kinda forces FOM’s hand, no matter if that engine deal comes through or not.
T
14th November 2023, 20:16
I mean, it’s a commitment in writing. It’s not that it’s hard to get out of but I think you’re overlooking the ramifications of I quote “a gigantic manufacturer such as GM, one of the icons of the American system” backing out of it.
We’re well into sunk cost here and the value is American Pride, something worth more than gold. GM would never live it down and they have so much more to lose. Saying out loud to all four corners of the nation and internationally and committing on signed paper to do something as big as F1 then coming up short in 2028 would cut deeeeep for GM and more importantly, their racing heritage in Cadillac and their attempts to sell more cars and elevate their luxury brand status to that of their German/European counterparts.
the teams are winning with GM’s tactile commitment because and I quote again, “a gigantic manufacturer such as GM, one of the icons of the American system” is committed to actually producing a power unit and competing in F1. It’s another constructor in the portfolio. Did you see what Audi’s announcement and subsequent commitment has done to valuations? Sauber is magically pushing a billion now, Alpine just sold a ~24% non voting stake for the price of the current anti dilution fee, AM is still bleeding cash but less now somehow etc.
FOM wanted tactile commitment and they’ve got it now, and more importantly can monetize and weaponize it. They’ll have no problem letting GM/Andretti in after dealing with the extenuating clauses like interim PU supply and AD fee. The ball and pressure is now fully in GM/Andretti hands to not face-plant. Good luck and Godspeed and may the displacement deities be with them,
Facts&Stats
15th November 2023, 7:27
Just look at Porsche; hardly any ramifications when pulling out.
Even I can think of a 1000 reasons to spin it positively if they do decide to pull the plug.
black (@black)
15th November 2023, 8:42
Well firstly Cadillac is not that big of a name outside of USA, compared to other brands, like VW, Mercedes, Renault, Honda, Toyota… and the American public only just started to warm up to F1, it’s not like many people cared before Liberty took over. F1 is not NASCAR or IndyCar.
Besides, it’s not only about potentially backing out, other brands, eqaully big and recognizable have done that:
• Porsche (VW perhaps the biggest in the world) said loudly they’re looking to enter F1 with their engine and their full works team… until they quietly decided they wouldn’t after not finding anyone willing to sell.
• Honda basically gets in an out of F1 more often than Ocon gets a penalty… hell they built a car for 2009, poured millions and in the blink of a moment they decided to sell the whole team for 1 pound.
• Toyota spent millions after millions without ever winning a race and quietly left.
All of them big proud brands, ‘representing their nations’.
It’s also about to what extend they decide to enter with Andretti. Suppose Andretti gets in, in 2025, they’ll be known as GM-Andretti Global – Renault (or something like that), the Renault engines are the ones rumored to be at the back of the car. In 2026 Renault will produce a brand new PU for Alpine and Andretti.. who’s to say that that engine would not just get rebranded as ‘Cadillac’ much like Red Bull-TAG Heuer used to run rebranded Renaults, and for Cadillac to say “voila, here’s our engine”.
And speaking of Red Bull, they were hiring the best engine engineers to produce their own PU for 2026 and *poof*, one day Ford joins them, saying that they’ll produce the engine ‘together’ from now on. How much (in %) do you actually think Ford will contribute to the project, when Red Bull were already doing most of the work themselves for the past 1-2 years? I think besides the name they’ll put on that engine… perhaps 10-20%? And we’re talking about Ford, a far more recognizable brand outside of the US.
PS: I would be more than happy for Cadillac to enter as a engine manufacturer alongside Andretti, but it just seems to me as a bargaining chip to convince FOM. They could easily just sponsor Andretti, maybe take full ownership of the team one day and rebrand it as “Cadillac F1” with Renault engines and not have to spend millions developing an engine without the massive experience that the other F1 manufacturers have.
T
15th November 2023, 16:35
I’m just going to answer both of you at the same time
Porsche never pulled out because they never actually pulled in.
PR statements riddled with weasel words isn’t commitment. It’s very easy to “pull out” when you have nothing to bind you and a litany of failed talks to acquire large stakes in existing teams. Also, I’d argue there have been ramifications: Williams shut down Porsche. If they ever decide to get serious about this, they have to dig themselves out of a massive fickle and temperamental reputation hole.
Yea, that’s the point, GM is using F1 to bolster and sell Cadillac to an audience that actually remembers their childhood, I already touched on this part. Also, yea (Liberty’s) F1 isn’t NASCAR nor Indycar, it’s a whole different beast and whether we like it or not, has no equal on an international stage. 105,000 people are somehow poised to inject about a billion dollars into sin city this weekend. That’s just objectively insane and if their latest earning report is to be believed, this is completely plausible. F1 isn’t NASCAR or Indy but it would be foolhardy to dismiss it’s unparalleled properties and capabilities.
Anyway, back to ‘unknown’ Cadillac; the weight is from GM, the best selling NA auto OEM for 90 years. I don’t know where you guys live but GM is sacred to the Americans. Everyone, EVERYONE in NA knows General Motors. Cadillac for it’s specific part, while having lost its market share still holds massive mind presence. It is one of the most name dropped and mentioned properties in the entirety of the music industry. No one, NO ONE shares this power. put some respect on that please. Your great grandparents know Cadillac and if GM knows what they’re doing, your unborn descendants will continue to know them.
This isn’t about them representing their nation, Ford is already there and to get ahead on a later point you brought up, they’re working on the batteries, electric motors, power unit integration, and analytics, it’s well known, RB is handling the ICE, they’ve been very vocal about their teething issues. In 2028, Honda would be in the twilight of it’s second year of it’s fledgling relationship with Aston Martin, Audi would be figuring out what exactly it’s gotten itself into and we’ll see how well Ford and RB are gelling together. If GM reneges in 2028, it will only reflect negatively on them. There is no blow back for anyone else and it doesn’t matter how much GM spins it. I can see the narrative right now GM forfeits on Ford v GM, did the OEM bite more than it can chew? Detractors and naysayers would have a field day with this!
Porsche can hang their hats on no one wanting to sell, Honda, yes is temperamental, but has actual commitment in the form of well, *gestures vaguely* at Honda, Spirit, Williams, Lotus, McLaren, Tyrrell, BAR, Jordan, Super Aguri, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, and AlphaTauri. This is just Honda as a constructor not as an independent team. I mean even in your example of Honda pulling out you cite the fact that an actual engine and chassis existed before they pulled the plug. I’m surprised you forgot 2009 was a tumultuous time for the world at large. I remember the American economy recovering from a crash and Honda for it’s part, was in an onslaught of sudden and immediate weakening of all it’s business ventures. Yet still, there was car ready to race – Commitment. Do you want to talk about Toyota and commitment? I would love to talk about Toyota and tactile commitment! Please let me know!!
The Alpine deal is tentative at best but I’m sure they can work something out if they get in. Andretti will need this deal instead of just the forced PU rule because as much as he loves to spew all American approach he knows very well being a French Alpine B team running all the allowed parts is the best shot he has at meeting the 107% rule in the early stages.
The Red Bull-TAG Heuer rebranded Renaults comparison doesn’t make any sense. It was a spiteful move and the last blow to a dying relationship that was disintegrating before our very eyes. We all knew the watchmaker wasn’t making the engine. GM-Andretti Global – Renault or whatever it ends up being would be fine because it’s understood, Renault is temporary and GM will finally slot in to power the team at the earliest convenience (2028). We had promises and PR puff pieces and now there is an actual written agreement between GM, FOM and the FIA. In 2028, GM/Cadillac now simply cannot go, “I know we said and committed to make our own PU but well, it already has one in it, is it cool if we pay Alpine to just slap our names on it?” That would absolutely not fly for a plethora of reasons, some of which I’ve already touched on. It’s such an asinine and self-own approach, GM would never be able to walk away from, especially in the nation’s push to “build America, buy American“. Perception is very very important to Americans, why do you think you can almost guarantee Andretti will throw in nationality every single time they speak about this venture? Do you think that’s by accident?
Look, all I ever wanted from the GM backed Andretti venture was an actual tactile OEM commitment. Until now, it’s been vague promises and outright lies. Like the 2026 Cadillac engine possible nonsense Andretti spat out knowing full well it would not only be logistically impossible but outright illegal as multiple deadlines had passed. bargaining chip or not, GM has backed themselves in a corner and I too once again, wish them luck.
LyndaMarks
14th November 2023, 18:56
I still think there needs to be a way for independent engine builders to be able to come in because putting all your eggs in the manufacture basket is going to put F1 in a pickle if/when some or all of them opt to leave…… And we all know they will.
Spencer (@spencer)
14th November 2023, 19:12
Red Bull are doing exactly that, and highly likely the GM engine will be produced by Ilmor as is their Indycar engine. Furthermore Renault and Mercedes produce their engines with entities almost completely independent of their parent companies. Honda, Ferrari, and Audi are much more tightly integrated with the larger entities. As many may recall Mercedes High Performance Powertrains were once Ilmor in its original incarnation. Not to mention every engine on the grid bar Mercedes has significant contributions from AVL or Mahle. F1 powertrains are still very much a cottage industry.
lynn-m
14th November 2023, 20:12
I mean completely independent engine suppliers funding & producing engines of there own name like we used to get from Judd, Cosworth, Hart etc… and without any manufacturer input.
F1 has become so obsessed with appeasing the big manufacturers over the past 10-20 years that we have lost the true independents who were doing it out of a genuine love/passion for the sport rather than because they wanted to try & sell a brand.
If there is a big crash in the car industry or something there’s no real true independent alternative to fill the void in the way that you had Judd, Hart etc… in past decades.
Gerrit
14th November 2023, 21:07
Plenty of independent racing engine builders. Mostly stock block V8 and available as crate engines ready to bolt in and run. Also any volume of Japanese crate engine screamers with turbos to 900Hp from 3 litre engines.
F1 would need to change the rules to enable a return to Can-am or F5000 style racing cars. That would make fielding a racing team cheaper and open the grid to more entries. Forget the high tech, does not sell cars on Monday.
Win Win
Spencer (@spencer)
14th November 2023, 22:14
What you are suggesting would not be hard to achieve at all. My point in the above comment is that most PU suppliers essentially farm out their design to third parties currently while maintaining an ownership stake in the intellectual property surrounding the MGU-H and Hybrid. Plenty of consulting engineers could step up nearly immediately with off the shelf components. (MGU-excluded) Meccachrome does this currently for F2. Nothing is stopping any current team from commissioning Cosworth, Meccachrome, etc from providing an engine to the regulations.
Zann (@zann)
14th November 2023, 21:08
it’s not really an announcement is it? We already knew they were coming in IF Andretti get in and NOT if they don’t, and obviously they weren’t going to do it with somebody else’s engine, that would have looked too ridiculous and feeble
Spencer (@spencer)
14th November 2023, 22:04
It’s an enormous announcement…Previously Cadillac’s ties to Andretti were limited to a branding exercise of existing Renault PUs. This is nearly a billion dollar commitment to produce and supply engines. Not sure how much bigger of an announcement a manufacturer could issue regarding F1 participation…
S
15th November 2023, 1:21
It’s not that big of an announcement… The first mention of GM from Andretti included GM likely producing their own engines in the future. They just hadn’t stated when in the future.
How about: “We, as a manufacturer, will enter F1 on (X date) regardless of whether a proposed new team partner is approved for entry or not.”
That’d be a firm guarantee without any conditions whatsoever.
And creating their own race team around that engine would be even bigger still…
Zann (@zann)
15th November 2023, 12:52
the All American team were going to stay racing with a French engine? :) This would be General Motors teaching Ford such a lesson!
Shimks (@shimks)
15th November 2023, 2:44
Interesting to read all your comments. I learnt a lot about what a commitment means. Thank you.
AlanD
15th November 2023, 2:58
“They will compete against Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Audi, Renault and Red Bull-Ford.”
When Red Bull’s engine becomes a Red Bull Ford, won’t Honda just disappear from sport?
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th November 2023, 8:04
Honda stay and will join Astin Martin
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
15th November 2023, 8:11
You aren’t serious are you?
Honda have roots in so many motorsports I couldn’t begin to list them.
Powering Aston Martin from 26.
Also I doubt they’ll be selling Suzuka.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
15th November 2023, 8:25
If you were serious some are Moto GP, World Superbikes good portion of Indycar entries, increasing support for Japanese drivers in F2, Super series. A more complete list is here.
http://https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news