General Motors appears to be nearing a 2026 Formula 1 entry following Michael Andretti’s withdrawal from operations at his eponymous brand.
Andretti launched an unsuccessful bid alongside General Motors’ Cadillac brand to join the F1 grid in 2026, despite gaining approval from the FIA.
Formula One Management rejected Andretti’s entry but welcomed the idea of an entry with a General Motors power unit by 2028.
Following Michael’s stepping away to a mere advisory role at Andretti in September, Associated Press reports that a General Motors works team is nearing approval for a 2026 entry in F1.
Michael’s absence has allowed General Motors to take the lead on the project, triggering F1’s greater interest.
Andretti’s new majority owner Dan Towriss has been in Vegas to amplify talks of the General Motors bid.
A genuine GM power unit still won’t be ready until 2028, so a customer engine deal would be required for the first two years of entry, which could be confirmed as early as the end of November, according to reports.
The project started by Andretti has been working at pace, with a site opened at Silverstone to start hiring personnel and to begin work on a 2026 prototype car.
Toto Wolff ready to welcome General Motors to F1
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff was asked about the prospects of General Motors joining the grid during Thursday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix Press Conference.
Wolff made his stance clear, that a team that can bring value to F1 would be welcome, even more so if it’s an entity as powerful as General Motors.
“I think if a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story,” Wolff said.
“And as long as it is accretive, 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. No one from Andretti or Andretti Global or whatever the name will be has ever spoken to me a single sentence in presentation of what the accretive part is.
“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.”
READ MORE – Michael Andretti to transition away from operations at Andretti Global
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