GM closing in on 2026 F1 entry after Andretti exit

General Motors' bid to enter Formula 1 has picked up fresh momentum, with talks between Formula 1 and the manufacturer understood at an advanced stage over a 2026 entry as an 11th team.

GM has been partnered with Andretti Global as the American motorsports powerhouse has been knocking on F1's door for some time.

The bid from the organisation to enter F1 from 2026 onwards was originally accepted by the FIA but rejected by F1 itself on commercial grounds. In its reasoning for the rejection F1 felt Andretti would not be able to competitive in the medium term and would therefore not bring enough value to the series.

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The Andretti family didn't take no for an answer and its aggressive campaigning is understood to have rubbed F1 management the wrong way. However, as first reported by the Associated Press, Andretti's recent exit as the figurehead for his eponymous team appears to have handed the organisation's prospective bid a chance to start with a clean slate.

In September Andretti handed the reins of Andretti Global to majority owner Dan Towriss, the CEO of Group 1001, who first teamed up with Andretti through sponsorship by the groups' subsidiary Gainbridge.

Towriss was spotted in the Las Vegas Grand Prix paddock on Thursday, and Autosport can confirm talks have taken place to explore what an entry by the group and GM could look like.

F1 initially left the door open for Andretti to try applying again for a grid slot in 2028, when GM would be ready to supply works engines. But sources have pointed out that current talks could lead to a GM-backed outfit joining as early as 2026, possibly under the Cadillac name that was initially connected to the Andretti bid. 

Andretti had hoped that partnering with GM would secure its position on the F1 grid

Photo by: Andretti Autosport

Despite F1's rejection Andretti Global continued building up its F1 programme at its Silverstone factory, where the team had been hiring numerous staff, including former F1 stalwart Pat Symonds.

If the GM team is to enter the series in 2026, it would likely have to take over the existing Silverstone project because of the short lead times involved, with Andretti having already run a model in Toyota's windtunnel in Cologne.

GM also won't be ready to supply works engines before 2028, so if accepted the squad would have to do a deal for customer engines for the first two seasons. Its most likely options are Ferrari and Honda, with Andretti's previous engine partner Renault having abandoned its 2026 power unit project.

There has been speculation over GM taking over Renault's 2026 engine IP, but it is now expected the US manufacturer will develop and build its own engines.

Speaking in Thursday's press conference Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said he would welcome GM entering the series, but pointed out the 10 existing teams have no say over the matter.

"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.

Michael Andretti, Owner, Andretti Global

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

"No one from Andretti or Andretti Global or whatever the name will be has ever spoken to me a single sentence in a presentation of what the creative 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."

When approached by Autosport, Formula 1 refused to comment on the matter.

F1's owner Liberty Media is currently facing an investigation by the US Department of Justice over its rejection of Andretti, on anti-competition grounds.