The 2016 season was the last season to have eleven teams, but Manor Racing fell off the grid leaving just ten. However, that might be about to change as General Motors looks to line up in the 2026 season.
Earlier this year, the General Motors project headed by Michael Andretti was rejected. They believed the new team wouldn’t be competitive enough and wouldn’t bring anything to the sport. However, Andretti is no longer heading the project and F1 seem to be considering the fresh proposal.
General Motors is keen on starting in the 2026 season
Dan Towriss, the majority shareholder in Andretti Global, now heads the General Motors bid. This is after Michael Andretti stepped back from the position in September. He is in Las Vegas this weekend, as well as General Motors representatives, to discuss the new entry for 2026.
Most F1 teams opposed an eleventh team joining the grid as it would result in a loss of income. They would have to split the winnings eleven ways instead of ten. However, this view seems to have softened. Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff said: “If a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story.”
General Motors is preparing a bid to enter the F1 grid as a new team owner in 2026!
This comes after Andretti’s failed bid to enter earlier this year!#F1 #LasVegasGP
Read all about it in the article below 👇https://t.co/8w0fzmh0eu
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) November 22, 2024
It makes sense for General Motors to start in 2026 with the new regulations coming in. They would be a customer team so would increase money to an engine supplier until their engine is ready in 2028. Mario Andretti had teased some good news coming and might this be what he meant?
General Motors expected to run in F1 without Andretti
Michael Andretti has moved into an ambassadorial role in the company. This might help General Motors gain entry into F1. Andretti, son of 1978 world champion Mario, was seen as a major stumbling block for the team gaining entry. His approach to gaining a grid slot was seen as confrontational. Their aggressive campaigning after the rejection rubbed the F1 hierarchy the wrong way.
F1 also saw that the sport would “bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around“. So the Andretti name was a major issue in gaining entry to the sport. Since Andretti has dropped out of the pecking order, the negotiations look to have gathered pace and heading in the right direction.
General Motors could be an asset to the sport. They would be a customer team until 2028, meaning a ‘works’ team would be boosted financially. It would also mean two drivers will make it to the grid who wouldn’t have the opportunity without another team. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments.
