Hi friends,
The list of news is rather short this week, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality – and boy do we have a big one to talk about.
Top Story of the Week: Cadillac Will Be the 11th Team on the Grid in 2026
Formula 1 did a complete 180 on letting in a new team for 2026. First they rejected the Andretti and Hitech bids earlier this year, and now they’ve gone back and decided that they’d like the Andretti bid on the grid after all, just without the Andretti name… Sort of…
So, what changed? The short answer to this is Michael Andretti.
There are two fundamental rules when you want to join Formula 1: Don’t step on toes, and never mess with the money. Michael did both.
Throughout his tenure with Andretti Global’s F1 project, there have been consistent stories about the very brash and forward way he was trying to secure the spot on the grid, perhaps best visualised by the anti-trust investigations launched by the US Congress at the request of Andretti.
Formula 1 is a notoriously closed club, and you will have to play by the club’s rules if you want to get through the door. Add to that the resistance to the anti-dilution fee demanded by the teams, and you’ve set yourself up with some serious roadblocks to get in.
But with Michael Andretti’s departure, and an agreement to pay an eye-watering $450 million anti-dilution fee, the now General Motors owned team will, barring any sudden twists, be on the grid in 2026.
It’s looking likely that they will be using Ferrari engines when they make their debut, while we wait for the GM engine to be ready in 2028.
And it won’t be completely Andretti-free, despite Michael leaving and taking the Andretti name off the entry. Mario Andretti will serve as a Director in an advisory role, and the team will still be operating out of the recently opened Andretti facilities in Silverstone, with the same staff and designs.
The Rest of the Stories This Week:
- The Italian GP will be held at Monza until at least 2031
- Former Renault Engine Technical Director Rob White has joined Andretti / Cadillac
- Mick Schumacher will depart his role as Reserve Driver for Mercedes at the end of the season
- Mick Schumacher joins Alpine in WEC for 2025
- Formula 2 Race Director Janette Tan and FIA Race Steward Tim Mayer have been fired
- Tim Mayer details his firing as being due to Mohammed Ben Sulayem taking offence with part of an appeal document
- Lamborghini has officially withdrawn from the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes in WEC
- Maserati has committed to another four years of Formula E
- Female racing pioneer Mary McGee has passed away
- Mastercard could become the McLaren title sponsor in the future
- Formula 1 and LEGO reveal a new range covering the whole grid
- Théo Pourchaire has joined Peugeot in WEC as their Test & Development Driver
- IMSA will split the GTD classes with separate qualifying, starting grids and safety cars from 2025
That’s it for this week. Until next time, thank you for being here.
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