FIA Approves Andretti and Cadillac for Formula One

by Matt Posky

Published: October 3rd, 2023

fia approves andretti and cadillac for formula one

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has confirmed that Andretti Formula Racing LLC has been granted approval to join Formula One. While Micheal Andretti first announced plans to have the family racing team join the F1 grid in 2022, FIA hadn’t taken the matter under serious consideration until the following year.

The FIA officially launched an application process to identify prospective teams by early 2023. Knowing that F1 was eager to continue drawing fans in the United States, Andretti immediately announced a partnership with Cadillac. We previously speculated that being backed by General Motors would make all the difference for Andretti Autosport.

From the FIA:

Following the conclusion of a comprehensive application process for prospective teams seeking to participate at a competitive level in the FIA Formula One World Championship, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile has concluded that the application by Andretti Formula Racing LLC should progress to the next stage.

Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only candidate to meet the stringent criteria that was set by the FIA in all material respects from the four teams which lodged formal applications in Phase 2 of the process. The initial call for Expressions of Interest (Phase 1) attracted numerous enquiries which resulted in four progressing to Phase 2.

The FIA has officially informed all applicant teams of their findings after a thorough appraisal.

Phase 2 involves the application, evaluation, and approval process. Andretti and Cadillac will now need to talk things over with Formula 1 Group, the governing body in charge of the sport's commercial rights, and owner Liberty Media. While it seems like one of F1’s overarching goals has been to increase viewership, with a racing team associated with one of America’s most iconic racing families seeming like a good fit, Formula 1 Group is composed of representatives from several racing teams that do not want to see Andretti or Cadillac on the track.

This includes the current CEO of Formula One Group and former team principal of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One, Stefano Domenicali.

“There are others that are much less vocal that would like to come into Formula 1, so there is a process to respect, and we will make sure together with the FIA that the process will be respected,” Domenicali said of the Andretti team in February. “There are a lot of dimensions to consider, and we don’t have to overreact because someone is pushing the system.”

However, Michael Andretti had previously noted that F1 politics frequently favors certain teams and scoffed about some of the complaints stemming from greed. The comment undoubtedly lacked tact. But it wasn’t exactly untrue, especially since adding another team technically dilutes the available prize money.

Domenicali called Andretti’s comments “not smart.”

Ferrari (which has more F1 wins than anybody) seemed to level the most complaints about the prospective Andretti-Cadillac situation, whereas Alpine and McLaren were the only two that seemed broadly okay with another team being added for the subsequent season.

With that in mind, Andretti Formula Racing LLC may yet fail to line up on any Formula 1 starting grids. It may seem unlikely due to the fact that organizers want to draw in American viewers. But it’s not like European racing organizations haven’t treated American teams unjustly in the past and F1 is notorious for having wonky internal politics regardless.

Assuming everything goes well for Andretti Formula Racing, we probably won’t see them competing until 2025. But that would leave them developing and running a car that would have to undergo some heavy changes for the following season. The 2026 regulations are supposed to introduce engines that use “fully sustainable fuels” produced in Saudi Arabia and incorporate substantially more electrification.

[Image: General Motors]

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Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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5 of 44 comments

IH_Fever on Oct 04, 2023

I can't wait to see an Escalade on 24"s blow the brakes off of the competition!

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- Analoggrotto on Oct 04, 2023
  
  Telluride is better ATP than Escalade, adjusted for GVWR of course.
  
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- IH_Fever on Oct 04, 2023
  
  Yes but Telluride is in a class of its own. The escalade will compete with the 20 year old MB, grandma's LeSabre, and the police trade in dodge charger!
  
  1
- Peter on Oct 04, 2023
  
  Analoggrotto C’mon H/K didn’t use immobilizers because they thought their vehicles were so crappy that no one would ever want to steal them.
  
  1
JMII on Oct 06, 2023

Seems like a good way to burn massive amounts of money to finish out of the points each weekend. Andretti should stay in Indycar where they are competitive.

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