GM Says It’s Andretti or Bust, Won’t Partner With Another Team to Enter F1
The record is set straight after F1 reportedly asked GM to partner with someone other than Andretti.
In a storyline with all the right ingredients for a bombshell Netflix series, there's a new development in Andretti and Cadillac's journey to the Formula 1 grid. General Motors President Mark Reuss told the Associated Press Wednesday that the manufacturing giant is working with Andretti Global and no one else.
“GM is committed to partnering with Andretti to race in F1,” Reuss told AP. “The collaboration between Andretti-Cadillac brings together two unique entities built for racing, both with long pedigrees of success in motorsport globally.”
This statement comes weeks after AP reporter Jenna Fryer revealed that F1 had gone as far as asking GM to partner with someone other than Andretti. GM never confirmed whether this actually happened, but a spokesperson told The Drive that the "formation of this distinctly American team is an important moment of pride for all our employees and fans," and that GM looked "forward to engaging with all of the F1 stakeholders to join the grid with Andretti as soon as possible."
Now Fryer reports that GM executives—likely Reuss himself and North American President Rory Harvey—will be in attendance at the inaugural Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix next weekend with the hopes of rekindling the fire with F1 owner Liberty Media. This is especially crucial given that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is reportedly ghosting Michael Andretti, flat-out ignoring his calls and texts.
F1 bosses have repeatedly said that their opposition to Andretti's bid is nothing personal and purely business, even if facts paint a very different picture—one where the biggest European racing teams are joining forces to keep the Andrettis out. This animosity is further fueled by comments such as this recent one from Williams team principal James Vowles, where he openly welcomed GM to F1. Andretti? Not so much.
"Williams is against the addition of an 11th team and very strongly against it,” Vowles said last month, according to Race Fans. “I welcome GM open-armed, and Williams welcomes GM open-arms and I hope to forge a relationship with them, should things not work out [with Andretti]. They are an incredible entity that I think will make the sport better.”
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