Formula 1 says it has "reached an agreement in principle with General Motors" to add a GM/Cadillac team to the grid in 2026 - but there's no mention of the Andretti name within its initial reveal.
Last week it emerged that F1 was set to reverse its decision to reject the Andretti-Cadillac entry, and now there's confirmation that a GM/Cadillac team will become F1's 11th entry from 2026.
But curiously within F1's announcement, there is no mention of Andretti, the entity that started this team's bid to get onto the F1 grid.
Michael Andretti had already stepped back from the day-to-day-running of the team, which was believed to be a key factor in F1 reversing its decision.
He's made way for business partner Dan Towriss, who is named as the CEO of 'TWG Global' in F1's communication.
"Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision [to reject Andretti-Cadillac] made by Formula 1 in January 2024," a statement from F1 read.
"Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time.
"Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process and will provide further updates in due course."
A statement from General Motors said its entry, referred to as Cadillac Formula 1, was "on the path to being a full works team by the end of the decade".
That avoids any reference to a specific year for its entry as an engine manufacturer. As part of the previous Andretti-Cadillac plans, this was set to be 2028.
Towriss said: "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1.
"Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.
"We appreciate the FIA and FOM's support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship."
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali called GM/Cadillac's commitment to the project an "important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport".
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who kicked off the new team process back in January 2023 with an impromptu tweet, said: "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application to bring a GM/Cadillac branded team on the grid for [2026].
"All parties, including the FIA, will continue to work together to ensure the process progresses smoothly."
The Andretti organisation is still effectively running the team, under the General Motors banner, but it remains unclear whether the Andretti name will be involved in the official name or branding of the team.
GM's statement also confirmed TWG "owns and operates Andretti Global", and that 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti, Michael's father, will serve as a director on the team's board.
Acknowledging the announcement, Michael Andretti said he was "very proud of the hard work" that the "Cadillac F1 Team" had put into the project and that he would be "cheering for you".
The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team. I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!
— Michael Andretti (@michaelandretti) November 25, 2024
The team should begin as a Ferrari customer before the works General Motors engine is available "at a later time", although there's no official confirmation that Ferrari will supply it yet.
The team would have had a guaranteed engine supply from Honda (due to a rule that means the existing manufacturer with the fewest customers has to supply a team without an engine deal) but striking a proper customer deal with Ferrari would make sense for a number of reasons.
Ferrari is losing a customer in 2026 when Sauber fully morphs into the Audi works team with an Audi powerplant and there's the potential for the team to buy a Ferrari gearbox and elements of the rear suspension too.
It comes after months of pressure from the team previously known as Andretti Cadillac in response to F1 rejecting it in January 2023 despite F1’s governing body the FIA approving its application to join the grid a few months prior.
A two-year struggle
The FIA first launched an application process for new F1 teams back in February 2023, following president Ben Sulayem's sudden promise to do so via Twitter one month prior.
Almost one year later F1's commercial arm Formula One Management rejected the sole candidate that the FIA had accepted from multiple applicants, Andretti Cadillac.
That was despite the entry boasting a works General Motors engine, albeit one that would not be available until 2028, meaning it would need to take a customer engine for its first two seasons.
Andretti continued to push on with building up its team despite the rejection, opening a UK satellite base for Andretti Global alongside its new headquarters in the United States.
It has conducted extensive work in Toyota's windtunnel in Cologne, Germany and has made several key hires - including former chief technical officer of F1 itself Pat Symonds.
The team has reportedly made significant progress both building and even crash testing a 2026 chassis.
While that has been happening in Europe, over in the US there has been political pressure placed on F1 owner Liberty Media.
Andretti's rejection caught the attention of US politicians with the Department of Justice even launching an investigation into the matter.
But the aforementioned most significant development is understood to have been Michael Andretti stepping down from day-to-day leadership of the team and an increased commitment from GM to be involved as early as possible in the project.
The team has fought hard to get its place on the F1 grid for the best part of two years - not even including its efforts prior to the FIA opening the new team tender such as Michael Andretti's failed attempt to buy Sauber's team in 2021 - but this next year is going to be its toughest yet as it now turns its full attention to making sure it is competitive when it finally gets there.