General Motors maintains confidence in Andretti Cadillac’s pursuit of F1 entry

GM’s Vice President Confirms Progression of F1 Bid

In a surprising turn of events, General Motors’ (GM) vice president of performance and motorsport, Jim Campbell, has provided an update on the company’s bid to join Formula 1. Despite a statement from Formula 1 rejecting the bid back in January, Campbell stated that the project is still advancing “at pace”. This announcement comes after an invitation sent by the commercial rights holder to Andretti Autosport went astray due to an IT glitch.

Bid Approval and Questions Raised

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) approved GM’s bid in October last year. However, concerns were raised about the potential competitiveness of the project with a Renault customer power unit. Although disappointed with last month’s rejection statement from Formula 1 management questioning its initial viability, GM remains hopeful for future possibilities when their own Cadillac power unit becomes available in 2028 as a works-backed entry.

Confidence in Application and Request for Meeting

Campbell expressed confidence in GM’s application with Andretti Autosport and emphasized that it received positive feedback from the FIA during their evaluation process. The company now seeks further discussions with Formula 1 management regarding their proposal.

“We believe between Andretti Autosport and Cadillac we have what it takes to field a competitive entry,” said Campbell. He acknowledged that while success won’t come easy, both organizations have demonstrated triumphs in other motorsports categories throughout history.

Potential Earlier Availability of Cadillac Power Unit?

Regarding speculation about Cadillac’s power unit being ready before 2028, Campbell clarified that FIA regulations limit their timeline for registration. He explained that if an earlier engine development were desired, the registration process would have needed to commence a year prior.

Looking Ahead

Campbell dismissed any notion of feeling insulted by Formula 1’s previous statement and reiterated his confidence in GM’s application. The company remains committed to pursuing discussions with Formula 1 management, aiming to showcase the capabilities of Andretti Autosport and Cadillac as a racing team and engineering entity.