Formula One Management is reversing its staunch opposition to Andretti Global becoming F1’s 11th team. The championship’s organizer is close to approving the entry of the General Motors-backed bid for the 2026 season, and Michael Andretti stepping down as majority owner of the racing team that bears his family name is purportedly the most significant factor behind the reversal.
If Andretti Global joins the world championship, it would likely be solely under the Cadillac Racing banner with all front-facing Andretti branding removed. The entry bid’s talks with FOM reignited once Dan Towriss took control of Andretti Global, the Associated Press reports. Towriss, a financial services investor, partnered with Michael Andretti to finance a significant portion of the effort to join F1.
The FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, approved Andretti’s F1 entry back in 2023. However, the organization can’t unilaterally allow a team into the world championship. Any new entry must reach an agreement with FOM, F1’s commercial rights holder. The will-they-won’t-they saga saw Michael Andretti wandering the Miami Grand Prix paddock seeking the signatures of F1’s 10 team bosses on a petition supporting his bid. FOM eventually shot down Andretti’s bid in January 2024 with a statement that read:
Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the championship. The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.
After that, things got Congressional. The Andrettis went to the Capitol for support and a dozen members of Congress signed a letter requesting that Liberty Media provide a better explanation as to why Andretti Global’s bid was rejected. The Department of Justice would then launch an antitrust investigation into Formula One, creating the potential for a devastating lawsuit.
FOM’s sudden reversal on the Andretti-Cadillac bid seems to give credence to the rumors that Formula 1 wasn’t happy with how aggressive Michael Andretti was in advocating for his team. It’s a petty case of it not being business but personal. It wasn’t about potential revenue dilution or manufacturer involvement. It was always about the Andrettis.