The relationship between Formula 1 and the FIA is currently fractured, as both parties disagree with each other over the idea of expanding the grid.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has previously shut down Michael Andretti’s plan to join the grid with Andretti Global, claiming that the sport is currently stable and therefore adding another team would be the wrong call to make at the moment.
Despite this rejection from F1, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has recently announced that he will be looking into the possibility of adding an 11th team to the paddock in the near future.
In the wake of this announcement, Andretti have announced that they had partnered with US car giants General Motors and will form Andretti-Cadillac as part of their F1 project with the company.
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Ben Sulayem has hit back at criticism of this project, claiming that F1 fans should be excited by a potential expansion of the grid, while F1 continues to stand firm in its stance against the idea.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has now given his take on Andretti-Cadillac’s announcement, saying it should not be overlooked how significant a partnership it is.
“Cadillac and GM, that’s a statement,” said Wolff via ESPN.
“Them joining forces with Andretti is definitely a positive. It gives it another angle that may or may not be beneficial for Formula One.
“But definitely something… how can I find the right word here… nobody would ever question GM or Cadillac’s pedigree in motorsport or as a global auto company.”
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Haas boss Guenther Steiner has recently taken a more cynical view on the rumours, suggesting that adding another team to the grid would simply see the revenue earned by the existing teams split another way, unless Andretti-Cadillac provide a significant financial boost to the sport.
It is worth noting that the regulations state that a new team can only join the grid if both F1 and the FIA agree, which they currently do not.
Andretti-Cadillac will not be the only new team on the grid in 2026, should the team be granted permission to join F1, as Audi will complete their takeover of Sauber when the engine regulations change in three years’ time.