Exclusive: F1 set to welcome new team

F1 appears to be getting an 11th team for the 2026 season and beyond, with the relevant parties believed to be reaching an agreement.

RacingNews365 and Formula.hu understand that in all likelihood F1 will welcome the new entry at the start of the new regulations cycle, with an official statement anticipated to follow soon.

However, the proposed name is not yet clear, with General Motors believed to be taking on greater involvement.

Therefore, despite the well-covered resistance, F1 has now agreed to an expansion of the current paddock and a second American team.

Earlier in 2024, RacingNews365 explained that the negative opinion of Andretti posed a problem for F1.

Andretti was the only team that passed the FIA expression of interest process and was originally moved on to F1, where FOM had the final say.

The entry bid was denied at that stage, earlier in the year, with F1 picking apart the application. One area of contention was the aim to be on the grid by 2026, meaning Andretti would need at least two seasons as a customer team before assuming full works status with General Motors, badged Cadillac. 

F1 did concede an entry application for 2028 may be viewed differently.

Despite the setback, Andretti continued full steam ahead to ready itself, with work going on behind the scenes to work to the desired 2026 start point, which it has now achieved. It is still working to the 2028 works team status timeline.

It is not clear who will supply power units to the team for two seasons, but under current F1 agreements, it is likely either Ferrari or Honda will be called upon. Audi and Red Bull Powertrains are exempt from this as new power unit providers for 2026.

General Motors turned a turnover of $171 billion in 2023, making it an immensely large company in the American market. It is therefore good news for F1 that there is now more certainty regarding the team's entry in 2026, and that it will be an engine supplier from 2028.

General Motors/Cadillac remained active despite the initial rejection and continued to build the engine for 2026 in recent months.

With Renault leaving the series from 2026, their inclusion will bolster the power unit supplier numbers for F1.