More cars on the grid - great. More drivers, more competition.
FUCK YEAH!
@UrPartnerInCrime @formula1 Really? Why do you like this development?
Funny. When I watch Indycar and IMSA, I always feel there are TOO MANY cars to keep track of, and I canโt tell whatโs going on in the race.
Maybe part of that is the tv directing. Maybe some of it is just that there are too many cars on track. I donโt know.
But I also donโt like the fact that IMSA has multiple races going on, on the same track, simultaneously, and they all have to race โaroundโ each other. That just doesnโt make sense to me. But IMSA fans love it. I donโt get it.
Now imagine if they announce that Cadillac will use Viry engines for 2026 and 2027 ๐
Theyโll be using Ferrari engines for 26-27:
GMโs decision to throw Cadillacโs hat into the ring came with the caveat that its powertrain wouldnโt be ready until 2028โtwo years after it actually wants to enter the sport. That means for 2026 and 2027, Cadillac F1 will use customer engines from another manufacturer, in this case Ferrari. From 2028, we can expect a GM-designed V6 hybrid under Cadillac F1โs engine covers.
Its good that thereโs a new team coming in. But the only thing I know about Cadillacโs as a non-USAian is they are lolloping barges.
To be fair, itโs a GM team not technically a โCadillacโ team. GM has a long history in racing including multiple GT class wins at Le Mans.
P.S. HOT TAKE - GM makes the best โDrivers Carsโ of act company over the last decade and Iโll take that opinion to my grave lol
Cadillac also produces cars like this for IMSA (GTP class) & WEC (Hypercar class).
All it took to get Andretti in was for Andretti to step aside. F1 still thought either under Mario or Michael, Andretti wasnโt as synonymous with F1 as American luxury sedans and SUVs.
I guess heโll still play a big role.
The F1 press release is pretty transparent on that part:
โOver the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process and will provide further updates in due course.โ
They are straight up saying that they approved the bid because of the teamโs branding being Cadillac and not Andretti. Which is a really weird statement IMO - do they actually have brand research numbers saying that Cadillac as a brand โbrings more valueโ? Or are they really petty about not wanting the Andretti name in F1? Imo itโs even possible that one of the Andrettis did something that isnโt public and FOM is afraid that if it comes out it might taint the brand image of F1 if there is an Andretti team.
Iโm guessing they think having a brand as Cadillac will bring more Americans to watch, and itโs quite clear that increasing revenue from the US is their main goal at the moment.