Cadillac racing in F1 with Andretti

[gshevlin]

I see that Toto Wolff has publicly admitted that the Cadillac relationship with Andretti has changed the picture.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wolff ... /10420489/

[AR3-GP]

Does anyone find it ironic how easy it was for Mclaren to go race Indycars? And now an Indycar franchise wants to come to F1, and now even Mclaren are against it? It's not right.

Isn't Zac Brown one of the people in the paddock actually on Andretti's side? (that McL Indy entry was using Andretti Racing stuff and the two know each other well, I guess from Brown's motorsport marketing background)

This is an excellent point.

But the rumour is only 1 of 9 teams was in support and it was believed to be Alpine. I never considered that it would be Mclaren.

Maybe Mclaren and Andretti would link up with the Honda power unit for 2026?

That's a very plausible angle.

[gshevlin]

My understanding was that when Andretti made the rounds of the F1 paddock last Summer to gain support for the original entry plan, the only 2 teams who were prepared to sign the letter of support were Alpine (since Andretti plans to use Alpine power units) and McLaren.

[bluechris]

I really don't see the problem with Cadillac really, let them pay the 200ml to enter f1 and billions if they need to reach the middle teams at least. Americans have money to burn, lets help in this.

[AR3-GP]

My understanding was that when Andretti made the rounds of the F1 paddock last Summer to gain support for the original entry plan, the only 2 teams who were prepared to sign the letter of support were Alpine (since Andretti plans to use Alpine power units) and McLaren.

This makes sense but the latest rumor is that it is down to 1 team now. It would be pretty dirty of Mclaren if they backed out...so I hope that's not the case.

[Big Tea]

If they are going to use Renault engines and need a team, would not a 50% stake in Alpine not be a better option for them?
Alpine are by no means a definite long term placeholder, run by a board room, so why not join up for a few years giving Alpine cash and extended fanbase, and Cadillac a start point to either swoop when a team becomes a available or 'prove' they have something to bring and are serious about staying?

I can see a conflict between Andretti managing the team and Alpine being 'in charge', but if the alternative is not getting a slot, is it that bad short term?

[FromGP2toWDC]

Doesn't benefit either party and has Renault/Alpine ever had a non-French TP before?.

[Scorpaguy]

It is actually fairly simple...F1 does not want a potentially strong American team. A GM backed effort poses such a threat, at least more than Haas.

Sulayem was presented an offer...he thought a strong Caddy would add to the show. Now he is learning just exactly what a good ole boy, Euro club he is trying to wrangle. Of course Caddy would likely fail, ala Toyota at best/Jag at worst, but RB, Big Red, and Merc have no intentions of letting them play. Musk and some EV abortion have a better chance of getting in unless Sulayem can pull a Bernie.

[AR3-GP]

FOM is the problem here.....

They've pitted the existing teams and the prospective entrants against one another, by the requirement that the prize pool is fixed and to be shared between the entrants. The reality is that the prize pool itself should be increased based on the number of teams which have entered. FOM stands to gain the most from more entrants and a broader appeal of F1. So why not pay that back towards the teams?

But alas, FOM sit quietly in the corner and make the teams fight for the same plate of food....

It's the pink elephant in the room, moreso than anything else. I wonder how long FOM thought they'd get away with it? There is no discussion of a requirement for FOM to simply increase the prize pool based on number of entrants.

[Sevach]

It is actually fairly simple...F1 does not want a potentially strong American team. A GM backed effort poses such a threat, at least more than Haas.

Sulayem was presented an offer...he thought a strong Caddy would add to the show. Now he is learning just exactly what a good ole boy, Euro club he is trying to wrangle. Of course Caddy would likely fail, ala Toyota at best/Jag at worst, but RB, Big Red, and Merc have no intentions of letting them play. Musk and some EV abortion have a better chance of getting in unless Sulayem can pull a Bernie.

Andretti made a point recently, the teams are not only worried about the prize money split, they are worried that sponsors with american origins or big american presence will flock to Cadillac...

[MIKEY_!]

Does anyone find it ironic how easy it was for Mclaren to go race Indycars? And now an Indycar franchise wants to come to F1, and now even Mclaren are against it? It's not right.

Isn't Zac Brown one of the people in the paddock actually on Andretti's side? (that McL Indy entry was using Andretti Racing stuff and the two know each other well, I guess from Brown's motorsport marketing background)

That's right, Brown (and therefore Mclaren) is known to be supportive of Andretti joining F1 - so it's 2 out of 10 teams on their side. Brown is also Andretti's business partner with the Walkinshaw Andretti United team in Australia.

[Mogster]

The F1 teams have no say in a new entry.

MPH over at The-Race has been saying they do. It’s in their most recent F1 podcast.

[mwillems]

Does anyone find it ironic how easy it was for Mclaren to go race Indycars? And now an Indycar franchise wants to come to F1, and now even Mclaren are against it? It's not right.

Andretti said he has support, though, from existing teams McLaren and Renault-owned Alpine.

He insists rumours that this is because his team would have Renault engines is "not true".

"Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] wants to do whatever he can to help us get there and so has Alpine as well," Andretti explained. "Zak Brown and Alpine are two very good allies. Zak has been very supportive.

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433 ... are-allies



Where have you read that Mclaren are blocking this?

[saviour stivala]

The F1 teams have no say in a new entry.

MPH over at The-Race has been saying they do. It’s in their most recent F1 podcast.

No, the teams have no say on a new F1 team entry. At least not until the next concord agreement comes up for signing where their say can than change. I do not know what MPH over at the race have been saying, what ever they where saying the existing teams 'SAY' situation will not change, and that also regardless their attempt at changing the signed for financial goalposts (concord agreement).

[Mogster]

Other sites are reporting Zak supporting Andretti now, Wolff seems to be softening also. Maybe Sulayem has been on the phone.