Andretti & Cadillac: Infusing American Spirit into F1 Racing
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal that will enable you to attain the success you seek”- Mario Andretti
F1 2024 has been a complete rollercoaster ride this time. There were many unexpected moments in the season. When the fans thought that this would be just like the past seasons where one team will have absolute domination throughout the series. And I am thankful that it was not the case. There were so many instances in this season that brought me to the edge of my seat, cheering for my favourite driver in one race and then getting to know that he is getting a surgery (if you know, you know).
Amidst the chaos, on 25th of November General Motors (GM) announced that they will join the grid of F1 with their Cadillac brand in the 2026 season with Mario Andretti, the last American F1 champion as their director on the team’s board. They have also said that their initial power unit will be Ferrari customer engines and they plan to develop their own power units in the future.
How competitive will the new team be from the start?
This is a common question that will come into any racing fan’s mind when a new team joins. To understand this question with regard to Cadillac’s entry and come to a conclusion, we first need to understand what is Cadillac’s legacy in other racing series.
Let me tell you about only two of their iconic accomplishments.
IMSA WeatheTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA). Cadillac entered IMSA’s premier Prototype class in 2017. They showed their racecraft, strategy, and racing skills by dominating the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017–2020 (2017, 2018, 2020). They won both the IMSA Prototype Manufacturer’s Championship and Driver’s Championships.
Cadillac returned to 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 with the Cadillac V-LMDh race car under the hypercar regulations. They achieved competitive finishes in their races which showcased their speed and reliability on track against some of the more established manufacturers such as Toyota and Ferrari.
Cadillac is definitely a strong brand, this is a result of their consistent success in any major American racing series they've entered. From GT racing to Endurance racing, they've proven to be adaptable.
By gaining entry into the F1, Cadillac brings in the American influence. With already three grand prix tracks in America and an insane growth in the American fanbase thanks to the Drive to Survive series, Cadillac’s entry to the sport just amplifies this momentum.
Along with Cadillac, Mario Andretti who has a powerful influence in the American racing history is coming as a director on the team’s board. Mario brings in the racing excellence and popularity which in turn helps Cadillac to grow in the sport.
As of now, driver lineup has not been announced yet, but there have been many speculations as to who might join the team. Daniel Riccardo who has recently departed from Visa Cash App RB Team (RB) which is RedBull’s sister team in F1. Daniel in his prime in RedBull has won many GrandPrix wins throughout many seasons and has potential.
Just like Daniel, there are many other drivers whose contract ended in the 2024 season with their teams. All of them are capable drivers and have great potential.
What do you think will happen to this team?
Thank you for taking the time to read the article. Any feedback is appreciated (hopefully positive) in the comment section.
